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4 








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WHERE THE WIND BLOWS 



/ 



■ ■■ '■>. 





/2/ L )j 


THE DWARFS, ON THEIR RETURN, TRIED IN EVERY WAY TO REVIVE 
SNOW-WHITE, WHEN THEY FOUND HER LYING ON THE FLOOR. 



Where the * * 
’'Wind Blows 

BEING TEN FAIRY-TALES * «s» 

FROM TEN NATIONS RE-TOLD 

byKatharinePyle, a- 

lustrated and embellished 

byBerthaCorsonDav 



NEW YORK 

E • P • DUTTON & COMPANY 

31 West Twenty-Third Street 




•'Bm 

V/ 

£ 


Copyright, 1902 
By R. H. Russell 
Copyright, 1910 

By E. P. Dutton & Company 



©Cl A 2 73242 


FOREWORD 


WHERE THE WIND BLOWS is not 
a collection of new and original fairy stories, 
but of old tales, gathered together from the 
myths and folk-lore of ten different nations, 
— the Japanese, Russian, Norse, German, 
Irish, Greek, Indian. 

Each one has been chosen as being partic- 
ularly typical of, or popular with, the na- 
tion it represents. 

Very old these stories are; old, almost, as 
the wind himself, for they began to grow 
while the race was still in its infancy and 
the world was young. 

Many and many a generation of little 
Hindoo children have listened to the won- 
drous tales of Vicram Maharajah, while 
5 


FOREWORD 


above them “the wind stirred in the palm 
trees,” and from beyond the gardens 
sounded “the tinkling temple bells.” 

Far up in the Norse land sturdy little 
Norse boys, or perhaps the children of the 
great vikings of old have thrilled at the 
tales of Thor; — of Thor the thunderer, — 
Thor the playmate of giants. 

And in the Emerald Isle the Irish chil- 
dren have listened spell-bound to their 
nurses’ tales of the sheehogues and the bold 
lad Guleesh who got the better of them in 
spite of their fairy spells. 

Little Japs with slanting eyes, Russians, 
brown-faced Indians, Greek and German, 
children of all races, in their time have lis- 
tened enchanted to the tales that have 
grown with their people, and breathe the 
very life and essence of their race. 

And now, to little American children, 
who have no folk-lore of their own, these 
6 


FOREWORD 


tales, gathered together and tied by a thread 
that holds them like a posy, are offered. 
And they are flowers that will not wither. 

Hark! The wind is in the chimney! 
Let us hear what he has to say. 

K.P. 

Wilmington, Delaware. 


7 



CONTENTS 


PAGE 

Foreword 5 

Where the Wind Blows 13 

The Wanderings of Vicram Maharajah . . .15 

Urashima 63 

The Magic Mirror 77 

The Red Swan 103 

The Fisherman and the Genii 129 

Thor at Jotunheim 165 

Guleesh Na Guss Dhu 187 

Vasilissa the Fair 21 1 

The Marriage of Sir Gawain 235 

Perseus 255 












































































ILLUSTRATIONS 


The Dwarfs, on their return, tried in every way to 
revive Snow White, when they found her lying 
on the floor Frontispiece 

PAGE 

No one could compare with Champa Ranee in grace and 
beauty 44 

“Take this box with you, my beloved, but, whatever happens, 
do not open it” 72 

The last arrow Objibwa aimed with the greatest care before 
he let it go 108 

After knocking several times and receiving no answer, the 
Sultan entered . 148 

With all his strength, Thor could lift but one of the great 
cat’s feet from the ground 180 

As the horse went from under him, Guleesh found what he 
had been riding on was nothing but a plough-beam . . 198 

It was a two-days’ journey through the woods to Vasilissa’s 
home 230 


Wondering and awestruck Sir Gawain sank before the lady 


on one knee 252 

Perseus wrapped Andromeda in his cloak 282 



Where the Wind Blows 


BEING TEN STORIES FROM THE 
GREEN EARTH, RECOUNTED 
BY THE WIND TO HIS 
GRAND-MOTHER UP IN 
NO-MAN’S-LAND 

F AR, far away, beyond where eye can 
see, east of the Sun and west of the 
Moon, is the castle where the Wind 
and his grandmother live. 

All day long, and sometimes at night, too, 
while he is out about his business, the old 
grandam is busy around the house. She has 
enough and plenty to do. There are the 
stars to polish, and the clouds to mend and 
start out on their journeys across the sky; 
then often she must climb the thunder- 
tower and set the thunder balls rolling and 
rumbling down the steps. Yes, there is al- 
13 


WHERE THE WIND BLOWS 


ways plenty to do east of the Sun and west 
of the Moon. 

But when the Wind comes home, his great 
wings flapping across the sky, the grandam 
is ready to rest a bit. Then it is she likes 
to sit by the fire and toast her toes and lis- 
ten to any stories that the Wind has to tell 
her. He brings them back with him from 
everywhere, east, west, north, and south, 
and tells them to his grandmother as they 
sit warming themselves over their fire in 
No-Man’ s-Land. 

“Did you ever,” asked the Wind of his 
grandmother, “did you ever hear of Rajah 
Vicram*?” 

“No,” answered the grandam, “I never 
did.” 

“All the same he was a very great king 
down there upon the green earth,” said the 
Wind. “So now listen, and I will tell you 
about the wanderings of Vicram Mahara- 
jah.” 

U 


THE WANDERINGS OF VICRAM 
MAHARAJAH 



j The Wanderings 



l HERE was once a very 
powerful Rajah named 
Vicram, who had a 
Wuzeer, between whom and 
himself there was the tender- 
est affection; they were like 
brothers. 

The Rajah consulted the 
wisdom of his Wuzeer about everything, 
and between them the kingdom flourished, 
until no other Rajah could compare with 
Vicram in power. 

Now many years before this time, while 
Rajah Vicram was still a child, his father 
had built a temple deep in the jungle. The 
temple was built to the god Gunputti, and 
17 


WHERE THE WIND BLOWS 


was very beautiful. The floors were of 
marble, the walls were painted with colors 
and overlaid with gold, and in the middle 
was a golden image of Gunputti himself. 

But the old Rajah died before Vicram had 
grown to be a man, and then the temple was 
forgotten. The jungle grew up around it, 
and the tigers roared at night about its 
walls. 

When many years had passed, and Vic- 
ram Maharajah was no longer a child, the 
wise Butti said to him: “Do you remem- 
ber the temple your father built in the jun- 
gle years ago? The prickly pears and the 
vines have grown up about it so thickly 
that no one can reach it, and very soon it 
will be falling into ruins. Would it not 
be a wise and pious act to clear the jungle 
away from around it so that the temple 
might be seen again?” 

The Rajah was much pleased with this 
18 


VICRAM MAHARAJAH 


idea, and he sent for workmen to cut the 
jungle away. 

When this was done all were amazed to 
see how beautiful the temple was, and how 
the walls still shone as though with jewels. 
The Rajah especially was so pleased with 
it that he could hardly tear himself away, 
and almost every night he and Butti used 
to go and sleep there. 

One night when they were sleeping in 
the temple, Vicram had a very wonderful 
dream. 

He dreamed that his father came to him 
and taking him by the hand led him out to 
the tower of lights before the temple. 

This tower of lights was a very high 
tower, with niches all the way up it where 
candles could be placed to be lighted in 
honor of Gunputti. Around the tower to 
guard it were seven hedges made of bayo- 
nets. 


19 


WHERE THE WIND BLOWS 


Rajah Vicram dreamed that when they 
reached this tower his father turned to him 
and spoke : “My son, in all the world there 
is nothing so worth having as wisdom, and 
if you can but gain the favor of Gunputti, 
he will teach you all things, so that in the 
whole world there will be none so wise as 
you . 55 

Then, still in his dream, Vicram spoke 
and asked his father, “But how can I gain 
the favor of Gunputti ? 55 

“In this way , 55 answered his father. 
“You must perform some act of very great 
devotion. Do you see this high tower? 
And do you see these seven hedges of 
bayonets around it? To fall upon the bay- 
onets would be instant death, but you must 
show Gunputti that you have faith in his 
power and mercy. You must hang a bas- 
ket from this tower by a rope, and getting 
into it head downward you must twist the 
20 


VICRAM MAHARAJAH 


rope three times and as it is untwisting cut 
it with a sharp sword. The basket will fall, 
but have no fear. Gunputti is merciful, 
and in some way he will surely save you 
from being killed upon the bayonets.” 

When the father had said these words, he 
disappeared, and Vicram Maharajah awoke. 
He was still lying upon the floor of the 
temple. The moonlight shone on the 
painted walls and the golden image of Gun- 
putti, and beside him lay the Wuzeer Butti, 
still asleep. 

Vicram awoke the Wuzeer, and told him 
everything that he had dreamed. “And 
now,” said the Rajah, “what do you think 
I had better doV’ 

“My advice,” answered the wise Butti, 
“is that you should do in all things as your 
father has told you, trusting that the mercy 
of Gunputti will not allow you to fall upon 
the bayonets.” 


21 


WHERE THE WIND BLOWS 


This advice was as the Rajah would have 
had it, so the next day he caused a basket 
to be hung by a rope from the very top of 
the tower. Into this basket he got head 
downward, and there seemed nothing but 
the rope to save him from instant death. 

Great crowds had gathered to see this act 
of devotion upon the part of the Rajah Vic- 
ram, and now stood gazing up as the basket 
swayed about in the air above them. 

When the Rajah was in the basket he 
called to his Wuzeer, who had mounted the 
tower with him, to twist the rope three 
times. 

Butti did as he was commanded. Then 
as the rope began to untwist Vicram let his 
sword fall upon it, so that it was cut in- 
stantly and the basket fell. 

But Gunputti would not allow his wor- 
shipper to be harmed. Before the basket 
could touch the bayonets he took upon him- 
22 


VICRAM MAHARAJAH 

self the shape of an old woman, and rush- 
ing out of the temple he caught the basket 
in his arms and set it gently upon the 
ground. Then immediately he vanished 
into the temple again. 

Nobody knew that it was Gunputti; they 
only wondered how an old woman could 
have done such a feat. They hastened to 
look for her, but she had disappeared, for 
Gunputti had changed himself back into his 
own shape again. 

After this the Rajah went every day to 
the temple, and Gunputti taught him all 
things, so that in all the world there was 
none so wise as Vicram. 

Now near the temple there lived a car- 
penter; he was a clever man but very dis- 
honest. This man heard how the Rajah 
went to the temple to talk with Gunputti, 
and wishing to learn wisdom also he fol- 
lowed and hid himself in the temple every 
23 


WHERE THE WIND BLOWS 


day. In this way he overheard everything 
that was said, and gained much learning, 
though this did not make him wise like the 
good Vicram, for wisdom is not alone from 
what is taught. 

At last Gunputti said to the Rajah, “I 
have now taught you all that any man can 
learn. After this I shall not appear to you 
any more, but as a parting gift ask of me 
anything that you may choose; — power, or 
wealth, or beauty, or long life, or happiness, 
— whatever you ask of me, it shall be yours.” 

Rajah Vicram thought for awhile, but he 
could not decide upon what to choose, so 
he asked Gunputti to allow him a day to 
think the matter over. 

To this Gunputti consented. 

The Rajah returned to his palace and 
called Butti to him. 

“Butti,” he said, “Gunputti has taught 
me all he could, and now as a parting gift 
24 


VICRAM MAHARAJAH 


he offers me anything I may choose : wealth, 
happiness, beauty, long-life or power. Of 
wealth and power I already have enough. 
I would not wish to live beyond the time 
of other men, nor of the other gifts do I 
desire more than what I already have. 
What, therefore, shall I choose?” 

Butti thought for awhile. Then he 
asked, “Is there no supernatural power that 
you would like to possess?” 

“Yes,” said Vicram; “I have often wished 
that I might be able to have my soul and 
senses pass into the bodies of other men, 
or of birds or beasts or fishes, that I might 
know what they feel.” 

“Then ask Gunputti for that power,” 
said the Wuzeer, “and it may be that he will 
grant it to you.” 

This advice pleased the Rajah, so when 
he returned to the temple the next day, he 
said, “Most Wise, I have now made my 
25 


WHERE THE WIND BLOWS 


choice. I would like to possess the power 
of having my soul and senses pass into other 
bodies for as long as I like, and then have 
them return to my own body.” 

“Vicram, your prayer is heard,” Gunputti 
made answer. He then taught the Rajah 
how to send his soul wherever he would, and 
he also gave him something to put in his 
body when he left it, so that it would not 
decay, but would remain just as it was un- 
til his return. 

The carpenter had been curious to know 
what gift Vicram Maharajah would choose, 
so he had once more hidden himself in the 
temple. Thus he too learned the spell by 
which one can send one’s soul into other 
bodies, but he could not see what it was that 
Gunputti gave the Rajah to keep his body 
from decaying while he was not in it. 

When Vicram returned home he told 
Butti that he had now gained the power 
26 


VICRAM MAHARAJAH 


that he had wished to possess, and he longed 
to make a test of it immediately. 

“I will tell you what to do / 5 said Butti. 
“You have long been desirous to see the 
beautiful Anar Ranee. It is at last in your 
power to do this, and even to bring her 
here.” 

Now Anar Ranee was the most beautiful 
princess in all the world. 

Her father was the king of the Pomegran- 
ate country, and so proud was he of his 
daughter’s fame and beauty that he would 
give her to no one, though many kings and 
princes had sought her as a wife. 

The king her father had made for her 
a wonderful garden surrounded by seven 
hedges of bayonets. In the middle of this 
garden stood a pomegranate tree bearing 
three large pomegranates, and in each of 
these pomegranates was a little bed. In 
one of them slept the Anar Ranee, and in 
27 


WHERE THE WIND BLOWS 


the other two slept two of her favorite 
maids. 

Every morning early, while it was still 
cool, the branches of the pomegranate tree 
would bend softly to the earth, the pome- 
granates would open in the centre, and the 
Ranee and her maids would come out and 
play in the shadows of the garden. Then 
at night they would go back into the pome- 
granates to sleep. 

The Pomegranate king had caused it to be 
published that no one should marry Anar 
Ranee except the hero who could pass the 
seven hedges of bayonets and pluck the 
pomegranates from the tree. 

Many brave men had tried to do this, for 
the fame of her beauty was great, but all 
had died in the attempt. Many had passed 
the first hedge of bayonets; some the sec- 
ond, the third, the fourth; a few had even 
passed the sixth, but none had ever been 
28 


VICRAM MAHARAJAH 


able to reach the beautiful garden where 
the Anar Ranee dwelt. 

Rajah Vicram himself had often longed 
to try to pass those bayonets, but Butti had 
plead with him and begged him not to throw 
away his life, as he certainly would do if he 
made the attempt. 

But now Butti himself was urging him to 
go. “For now,” he said, “you may cer- 
tainly, if you will, gain the lovely Anar 
Ranee as a wife.” 

“How can I do this?” asked the Rajah. 

“In this way,” answered Butti. “Cause 
your soul to pass into the body of a parrot. 
You can then fly over the seven hedges of 
bayonets, bite off the stalks of the pome- 
granate in which the Ranee sleeps, and 
bring it safely home with you in your beak.” 

This plan pleased the Rajah, and he 
caused a strong and handsome parrot to 
be killed and brought to him. Then, plac- 
29 


WHERE THE WIND BLOWS 


ing in his body the charm that Gunputti 
had given him to prevent decay, he trans- 
ported his soul into the body of the bird 
and flew away. 

On and on he went, over hills and valleys, 
over land and water, until he reached the 
country of the Pomegranate king. 

Without difficulty he flew over the seven 
hedges of bayonets, and to the tree in the 
middle of the garden. 

The Ranee was asleep in the pomegran- 
ate, and Vicram broke off the stem so gently 
that she did not even awake. Then, car- 
rying it in his beak he flew back to his palace 
and caused his soul to leave the parrot’s 
body and pass back into his own. 

How amazed the Anar Ranee was upon 
opening her eyes to find herself in a strange 
palace instead of her own garden, and still 
more amazed to see the handsome hero who 
had brought her thither. 

30 


VICRAM MAHARAJAH 


She gladly consented to be his wife, and 
as for Vicram, he found the Anar Ranee 
more lovely than anything he could have 
imagined; for so radiant was she that her 
beauty seemed to brighten all around her, 
as does the moon when it rises from a dark 
bank of clouds. 

For awhile after Vicram was married, he 
was content to stay at home, but after a 
time he grew restless and ill-content. 

“Of what use to me , 55 he said to Butti, 
“is the wonderful power that Gunputti 
gave me if I stay here all the time? I love 
my Ranee and my people dearly, but I can- 
not forget that this power is mine, and I 
long to try it once more.” 

“Where do you wish to go?” asked the 
Wuzeer. 

“I do not know, but out into the world 
some place.” 

Seeing that the Rajah’s heart was set 


WHERE THE WIND BLOWS 


upon adventure, Butti did not try to dis- 
suade, nor did the Anar Ranee, for she was 
wise as well as beautiful. 

Vicram wished to take the form of a par- 
rot again, so for three days he waited until 
there could be found for him the handsom- 
est and strongest bird possible. Then plac- 
ing in his body the charm, and bidding 
farewell to his wife and the Wuzeer, he 
transported his soul into the parrot and once 
more flew away in search of adventures. 

As soon as the Rajah’s soul had left his 
body the news went about that he was dead, 
and no one knew any differently except the 
Ranee, the Wuzeer, and the carpenter’s 
son ; for these were the only ones who knew 
the magic powers of Vicram. 

But the carpenter had also learned how 
to send his soul from one body into another, 
and he thought he would like to know how 
32 


VICRAM MAHARAJAH 


it would feel to be a Rajah for awhile. 
So scarcely was the Vicram parrot out of 
sight before the carpenter caused his soul to 
pass into the body it had left behind. 

Vicram’ s attendants, seeing him appar- 
ently revive, were very glad, and thought 
he had only swooned for awhile, but Anar 
Ranee and Butti were frightened; they 
guessed that some one else had learned the 
spell taught by Gunputti, and was making 
use of the Rajah’s body. 

The wise Wuzeer took Anar Ranee aside, 
and said to her, “It is certainly true that this 
is not Vicram Maharajah himself, but to 
make sure of it make for his dinner to-day 
some very coarse and common currie and 
serve it to him. If he complains that it is 
not as good as usual, it may be that it is 
Vicram who has suddenly returned after all. 
In this case you can excuse yourself, saying 
33 


WHERE THE WIND BLOWS 


it is a mistake. But if he eats and says 
nothing about it, then we shall know be- 
yond a doubt that it is some one else.” 

Anar Ranee did as the Wuzeer advised. 
She made a very coarse currie and served 
it to the carpenter, who knew no difference, 
and ate it without complaint. 

When she came to Butti and told him 
this, he looked very grave. “It is then 
as I feared,” he said. “We must now think 
of some way in which to drive the strange 
soul away. We will not throw him into 
prison, because it is your husband’s body, 
and that would be dishonoring it. But 
neither you nor any of the household must 
speak to him or have anything to do with 
him. Then he will begin to think that the 
life of the Rajah is not as pleasant as he 
thought, and perhaps he will return to his 
own body.” 

The Ranee and all the household fol- 

34 


VICRAM MAHARAJAH 


lowed out in everything the advice that 
Butti gave, and very soon the carpenter 
grew very unhappy. He would have been 
glad enough to return to his own body, but 
not having had any of the magic salve to 
rub in it, his soul had no sooner left it than 
it began to decay. Then his friends, think- 
ing him dead, burned the body. 

So it was that the soul of the carpenter 
had no choice but to remain where it was. 

Meanwhile, the true Rajah in his parrot 
shape had flown away and away, until just 
as he was growing weary he came to a large 
banyan tree, upon which were perched a 
thousand other parrots. Vicram lighted 
upon this tree to rest, thus making a thou- 
sand and one. 

The Rajah parrot entered into conversa- 
tion with the others, and finding them very 
friendly he determined to stay there with 
them for awhile. Every day he flew out 

35 


WHERE THE WIND BLOWS 

with the others to get food, and every night 
he returned with them to the great banyan 
tree to sleep. 

Now it chanced a hunter often passed 
through that part of the jungle, and he had 
noticed the great flock of parrots that 
roosted there. “If I could but catch those 
parrots , 55 he said to himself, “what a fine 
great dish of currie I could make; enough 
to feast myself and all of my friends . 55 
But the tree was so tall and straight, and 
the trunk so slippery that he could not 
climb it, though he often tried. 

One day when the parrots started out the 
sky was dark with a storm, and before long 
it began to rain heavily, driving them all 
back to the banyan tree for shelter. When 
they reached there, however, they found the 
branches black with a thousand crows, who 
had also sought the tree for protection 
against the storm. 


36 


VICRAM MAHARAJAH 


The Rajah Parrot said to the others, 
“Look! do you see that the crows are carry- 
ing seeds home in their beaks? Let us 
drive them away lest they should drop the 
seeds and the seeds grow up into vines by 
which the hunters may climb up into our 
tree.” 

The other parrots would not do this. 
“No, no,” they said. “Such a thing is not 
likely to happen, and it would be cruel to 
drive the poor things out in such weather 
as this. Let them stay until the rain is 
over, and then they can go on their way.” 

Vicram, however, had known what he 
was talking about. Everything happened 
as he had feared. Some of the crows let 
fall the seeds they were carrying and these 
took root under the banyan tree. Soon 
they sprang up into strong vines that twined 
up about the straight smooth trunk and 
made it easy to climb it. 

37 


WHERE THE WIND BLOWS 


The next time the hunter came by that 
way, he noticed this. “Oh, ho, my pretty 
pollies,” he thought to himself, “I have long 
been waiting and longing to make you into 
currie, and now my chance has come.” 

With that he hid himself until the parrots 
had flown away to look for food, and then 
climbing by means of the vines, he set a 
thousand and one snares of fine thread 
among the branches. This done he went 
away again. 

That evening the parrots all came home 
to roost as usual, but no sooner had they 
alighted upon the branches, than they found 
themselves caught in the snares the hunter 
had set. 

“Alas, alas!” they cried. “If we had but 
listened to you, Vicram, this would not have 
happened, but now this evil has come upon 
us, and we are all but dead parrots. Alas, 
alas!” 


38 


VICRAM MAHARAJAH 


Instead of giving himself up to lamenta- 
tions, however, as the others did, the Rajah 
Parrot set his wits to work to think how they 
might still escape with their lives. “Lis- 
ten,” said he. “If you will all do exactly 
as I bid you we may still be saved. When 
the man comes to take us, let every one hang 
down from the snare as though he were al- 
ready dead; then the hunter will not trouble 
himself to wring our necks, but will throw 
us to the ground as we are. Let every one 
lie there perfectly still until the man begins 
to climb down the tree again, and then we 
will all spread our wings and fly away.” 

At these words of Vicram’s the parrots 
again felt hope, and they agreed to do ex- 
actly as he bade them. So when the hunter 
came to the tree the next morning there were 
the parrots all hanging down still and seem* 
ingly dead. 

“What!” said the hunter. “All dead! 

39 


WHERE THE WIND BLOWS 


That will save me the trouble of wringing 
your necks at any rate.” 

Thus saying he climbed the tree and be- 
gan cutting the threads that held the parrots 
and throwing them down. Every parrot 
fell like a stone and lay perfectly still where 
it had fallen. 

In this manner one thousand parrots were 
thrown to the ground, but just as the hunter 
was about to cut the thread that held the 
thousand and first parrot, who happened to 
be Vicram, he dropped his knife, and was 
obliged to descend and get it. 

When the thousand parrots that lay upon 
the ground heard the hunter coming, they 
thought that all had been released, and 
starting up they flew away with a loud 
whirring of wings. 

The hunter saw the trick that had been 
played upon him, and he was very angry. 
“Ah, ha, my fine parrot!” he cried to Vicram 
40 


VICRAM MAHARAJAH 


Maharajah, “this is your doings, for you are 
a stranger here. But you shall pay for it. 
You at least shall not escape me, and to 
make sure of it I will wring your pretty neck 
immediately.” 

But to his surprise the strange parrot 
spoke to him. “Do not kill me, but take 
me to the next town, and there you shall 
sell me for a thousand gold mohurs!” 

“A thousand gold mohurs!” cried the 
hunter. “Who would be foolish enough to 
give that for a parrot?” 

Nevertheless he took the thread that still 
bound the parrot, and carried him away with 
him alive to the town. There he began to 
offer him for sale about the streets. 

Several people stopped and asked him 
how much he wanted for his parrot, for it 
was very handsome, but when he said a 
thousand gold mohurs they laughed at him. 
“Who would give a thousand gold mohurs 
41 


WHERE THE WIND BLOWS 


for a parrot? 5 ’ they cried. “You must be 
crazy ! 55 and then they would pass on. 

At last the hunter grew angry. “See , 55 
he said, “I knew how it would be. You 
have made a laughing-stock of me. Now 
I shall certainly wring your neck and make 
you into currie, for that is all you are good 
for . 55 

“Do but wait a moment , 55 cried Vicram. 
“Here comes a merchant this way. Offer 
me to him, for he will surely buy me . 55 

So when the merchant came by, the 
hunter once more offered his parrot for sale. 

“He is indeed a handsome bird , 55 said the 
merchant. “What do you ask for him ? 55 

“A thousand gold mohurs , 55 answered the 
hunter. 

“A thousand gold mohurs ! 55 the merchant 
cried. “Surely you are out of your mind. 
Why with a thousand gold mohurs one 
could buy a house and a garden and fruit 
42 


VICRAM MAHARAJAH 


trees, and who is going to give that for one 
little parrot?” 

Before the hunter could answer, Vicram 
cried, “Buy me, merchant, buy me. I am 
Vicram Maharajah parrot. Give him the 
thousand gold mohurs; take me home and 
put me in your shop to talk to your cus- 
tomers and it will repay you well.” 

The merchant was very much surprised 
to hear the parrot speak thus. “What non- 
sense is this?” he said. But his fancy was 
pleased with the bird, so he paid the hunter 
what he asked and took Vicram home with 
him. 

The merchant bought a cage and hung the 
parrot up in his shop. There it talked so 
wisely to those who came to buy that every 
one was amazed, and people came from far 
and near to listen to Vicram parrot. In- 
deed so many new customers were drawn to 
the shop that the merchant found he would 

43 


WHERE THE WIND BLOWS 


soon be twice as rich as he had been before. 
He was so delighted that he had a cage of 
pure silver made for the bird; he praised and 
caressed it and never took any important 
step without first consulting with Vicram 
Maharajah. 

Now in this same city there lived a very 
beautiful Nautch girl named Champa 
Ranee, who danced at all the finest feasts 
and entertainments. No one could compare 
with her in grace and beauty. 

There also lived in the city a poor wood- 
cutter. 

One day the woodcutter went into the 
jungle to cut wood, and being very tired, he 
fell asleep there and began to dream. He 
dreamed that he married the beautiful 
Champa Ranee, and that he gave her for a 
wedding present a thousand gold mohurs. 

After he awoke and came back to the city, 

44 



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NO ONE COULD COMPARE WITH CHAMPA RANEE IN GRACE AND BEAUTY 












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VICRAM MAHARAJAH 


he sat down to rest before the house of 
Champa Ranee. Then he began to tell his 
friends of his dream. “I dreamed that I was 
a very rich man, he said, and that I married 
Champa Ranee, and gave her a thousand 
gold mohurs for a wedding gift . 55 

It chanced that while he talked thus, the 
Nautch girl was sitting at her window, and 
she overheard all that was said. “For all 
that man looks so poor , 55 she thought to her- 
self, “he must have money hidden away or 
he never would have dreamed such a thing . 55 
And being very avaricious she began plan- 
ning how she might get his money for her- 
self. 

She waited until the woodcutter had 
started away and then she sent her servants 
after him to catch him. As soon as he was 
caught she ran out to him, and began cry- 
ing, “Oh my dear husband! Why did you 
45 


WHERE THE WIND BLOWS 


go away and leave me? and where are the 
thousand gold mohurs you promised me as 
a wedding gift?” 

When the poor man heard this he was 
frightened. “What do you mean?” said he ; 
“I am not your husband, and as to promis- 
ing you a thousand gold mohurs, I never had 
so much money in all my life.” 

The Nautch girl, however, would not 
listen to him, but began to beat her breast 
and tear her hair. “How can you be so 
cruel?” she cried. “You certainly are my 
husband, and you said you would give me a 
thousand gold mohurs which you had hid- 
den away, but you have never given me one 
of them.” 

The neighbors did not know what to make 
of all this, but the Champa Ranee made so 
much noise that they carried her and the 
woodcutter to a judge that he might decide 
between them. 


46 


VICRAM MAHARAJAH 


The judge, however, could no more settle 
it than the neighbors. The Nautch girl said 
one thing, and the woodcutter another, and 
he did not know which to believe. At last 
the judge referred it to the Rajah, but the 
Rajah was just as much puzzled as he. 

Then the Wuzeer of the Rajah remem- 
bered that he had heard of a very wonderful 
parrot belonging to a merchant in that city; 
a parrot so wise that there was no question 
that it could not answer. 

“Let us send for this bird,” he said, “and 
perhaps he can tell us how to deal with 
this.” 

Vicram Maharajah Parrot was sent for 
and the whole case placed before him. 

When he had heard both sides of the story 
he asked Champa Ranee: “Where was it 
that this marriage took place?” 

“It was off in the jungle,” answered the 
Nautch girl, “where he has a house, but I 
47 


WHERE THE WIND BLOWS 


could not show you the way, for he only 
took me there once. 5 ’ 

“And when was it?” 

“At such and such a time.” 

The parrot then called witnesses who 
proved that at the time she named, the 
Nautch girl had been dancing at a feast in 
the city. 

“You see how impossible it is that he 
should have married you then,” said Vicram 
Parrot. “And how do you think any one 
can believe that you would leave your beau- 
tiful house to follow this poor woodcutter 
into the jungle; or that you would have 
believed him if he had told you he could 
give you a thousand gold mohurs? No, no; 
your story is both false and foolish.” 

In spite of this, the Nautch girl insisted 
that her story was true. She said, however, 
that she would give up all claims upon the 
48 


VICRAM MAHARAJAH 


woodcutter if he would but pay her the 
money he had promised. 

The parrot called for a moneylender and 
borrowed from him a thousand gold mohurs. 
These he placed in a bottle and sealed 
securely. He then had the bottle handed 
to Champa Ranee. “Now take out the 
money,” he said, “but do not break either 
the bottle or the seal.” 

“That is impossible,” she answered. 

“Very well; it is just as impossible that 
this poor man should give to you what he 
has not himself. Go home, Champa Ranee. 
You are very beautiful to look at, but your 
thoughts are false and evil.” 

When the. people heard this decision, they 
marvelled at the wisdom of the parrot, but 
the Nautch girl was furious. “You shall 
suffer for this!” she cried. “You think 
yourself very wise, but I tell you that some 

49 


WHERE THE WIND BLOWS 


day you shall be in my power, and then not 
all your wit shall save you, for I will bite 
off your head.” 

“Do you say so?” asked Vicram. “Then 
listen to me. I tell you that through me 
you shall yet lose all your possessions ; that 
by your own order your house shall be razed 
to the ground, and through rage and despair 
you shall kill yourself.” 

“Very well,” cried Champa Ranee. “We 
shall see whose words will come true.” She 
then went away, followed by the jeers of 
all the people. 

Now it so happened that some time after 
this the only son of the merchant was to be 
married, and the merchant gave a great 
feast in his honor. He ordered that the best 
dancing-girl in all the city should be sent 
for to dance before the guests, and this 
dancing-girl proved to be no other than 
Champa Ranee. 


50 


VICRAM MAHARAJAH 


She danced so beautifully that all the 
guests were charmed, and the merchant in 
his delight said, “Nautch girl, what shall I 
give you? Ask whatever you will of all my 
possessions and it is yours/’ 

Then Champa Ranee cried, “Give me the 
parrot that hangs in your shop.” 

When the merchant heard that, he was 
very sorry and would have refused her, but 
every one had heard his promise. He of- 
fered her rich stuffs and gold and gems — 
anything she might choose if she would but 
leave him his parrot. 

“No, no,” answered the Nautch girl. “I 
will have the parrot and it alone.” 

The merchant had no choice. He was 
obliged to give her Vicram Maharajah, and 
the dancing-girl carried the bird home with 
her. 

When Champa Ranee reached her house 
she caused the doors to be locked. “Ah, ha! 
51 


WHERE THE WIND BLOWS 


my clever one,” she cried, “you are in my 
power, and now we will see which one of us 
will keep our word.” 

Then she called for a servant and put the 
parrot in her hands. “Here,” she said, 
“take this bird and kill and cook it, for I will 
have it for my supper. But first cut off its 
head and bring it to me grilled, for I wish 
to eat it immediately.” 

The servant carried the parrot to the 
kitchen, grumbling to herself. “What an 
idea!” she muttered. “Who but my mis- 
tress would ever think of eating a grilled 
parrot’s head. What absurd ideas she has.” 

“All the same you had better do as she 
tells you,” said her fellow servant, “or she 
will have you beaten.” 

“That is true,” answered the first, “for 
when our mistress is angry she does not care 
how much she makes others suffer.” And 
she began to pluck out the long feathers 
52 


VICRAM MAHARAJAH 


from the parrot’s tail. All the while Vic- 
ram Maharajah let his head hang down as 
though he were already dead. 

Presently the maid laid him down while 
she went away to fetch some water. Then, 
quick as a flash, Vicram slipped into a hole 
through which ran the water used in wash- 
ing the dishes. He found this hole went 
all the way through the wall of the house. 
Vicram followed it and soon found himself 
outside. There he spread his wings and 
flew to a temple near by, where he hid be- 
hind the idol. 

Meanwhile the maid had come back, and 
finding the parrot gone she was very much 
frightened. “What shall I do now?” she 
cried. “My mistress will certainly beat 
me.” 

“I will tell you what to do,” said the 
other. “Take a chicken, grill its head and 
carry it to her, and cook the rest of it for 
53 


WHERE THE WIND BLOWS 


supper. She will never know the differ- 
ence.” 

This the maid did, and when the grilled 
chicken’s head was brought to Champa 
Ranee, she did not know but what it was 
the head of Vicram parrot. She ate it very 
slowly, bit by bit, saying all the while, 
“Ah, my pretty bird, whose words have come 
true? Here am I, still rich and beautiful 
and alive, while that wise head that planned 
against me only serves as a dainty morsel 
for me to eat before supper.” 

All that evening the Nautch girl was very 
gay, and danced and sang to herself. 

It so chanced that the temple in which 
Vicram had taken shelter was the very one 
where Champa Ranee went every day to 
pray. She would prostrate herself before 
the idol, and always her prayer was for one 
thing; that the idol would carry her up to 

54 


VICRAM MAHARAJAH 


heaven bodily, as she was, for she' was 
terribly afraid of dying. 

The day after Vicram had escaped, the 
Nautch girl came there as usual to pray, and 
the parrot, hidden back of the idol, heard 
her prayer. 

When she had ended, and before she 
arose, he spoke to her. “Champa Ranee! 
Champa Ranee!” he said. 

The Nautch girl thought it was the idol 
speaking to her, and she was so filled with 
awe that she did not dare to look up, though 
she listened eagerly. 

“Your prayer is heard,” the voice went on. 
“You shall be carried up to heaven bodily 
as you wish, but no one can take anything 
from this world to that. Before you can go, 
you must get rid of all your possessions.” 

“How shall I do that?” asked the Nautch 
girl. 


55 


WHERE THE WIND BLOWS 


“Give all you have to the poor; dismiss 
your servants, and cause your house to be 
razed to the ground. Then return here, and 
you shall receive your just reward/’ 

The voice was silent, and Champa Ranee 
rose and went away, filled with joy. 

She made haste to do everything the 
parrot had commanded. She gave away her 
money, she dismissed her servants, and 
caused her house to be pulled down. She 
also told every one that the idol had spoken 
to her and had promised to carry her up to 
heaven bodily. 

Every one marvelled, and when all was 
done and she returned to the temple, a great 
crowd followed her to behold the miracle. 

The Nautch girl then threw herself down 
before the idol. “I have done everything as 
you commanded me,” she cried, “now fulfil 
your promise.” 

There was a fluttering of wings, and out 

56 


yiCRAM MAHARAJAH 


from behind the idol flew a little parrot. 
“I have almost fulfilled my promise,” he 
said. “Champa Ranee, do you remember 
the words of Vicram? Your possessions are 
gone; your house razed by your own order. 
It was my voice you heard, and not that of 
the idol.” 

When the Nautch girl heard that, she saw 
what a trick had been played on her, and she 
was so filled with rage and despair that she 
fell down and dashed her head against a 
stone and killed herself. 

Now it was a long time since Vicram 
Maharajah had left his own country, and 
some months before, Butti, fearing some 
harm must have come to him, had set out 
into the world to seek for him. 

It so happened that he was among the 
crowds that had come to see the Nautch girl 
taken up to heaven. 

When he heard the parrot and saw it fly 

57 


WHERE THE WIND BLOWS 


out from behind the idol he knew it immedi- 
ately, and called aloud, “Vicram! Vicram 
Maharajah ! 55 

Then the parrot flew down upon the 
Wuzeer’s shoulder. 

Butti would have taken him home im- 
mediately, but Vicram wished first to go and 
bid farewell to the merchant. 

Nothing could equal the good man’s won- 
der when he found that the handsome parrot 
who had talked so wisely was no other than 
the great Vicram Maharajah. He would 
have loaded the Wuzeer with rich gifts, but 
Butti would take nothing but the cage in 
which the Rajah Parrot had lived so long. 

With this he journeyed back to Vicram’s 
own country, but here they met with a great 
difficulty. The soul of the carpenter was 
still in the Rajah’s body, and how to get it 
out, they did not know. 

58 


VICRAM MAHARAJAH 


There was nothing to do but to wait until 
they could think of some plan, and mean- 
while the parrot in its cage was hung in the 
palace, and no one but Butti and Anar 
Ranee knew that it was Vicram himself. 

Now the false Rajah and the Wuzeer had 
each a fighting ram, and one day, after the 
return of Vicram Maharajah, Butti pro- 
posed to the carpenter that they should set 
their rams to fighting and see which was 
stronger. 

To this the pretended Rajah readily 
agreed; but very soon he saw to his annoy- 
ance that his ram was getting the worst of 
the battle. To give it fresh spirit, he trans- 
ferred his soul into its body. 

Vicram, who was upon the watch, saw this, 
and instantly caused his soul to pass into 
his own body. Then, seizing a sword, he 
cut off the head of the ram with one blow. 
59 


WHERE THE WIND BLOWS 


Nothing could exceed the joy of Anar 
Ranee and the Wuzeer upon seeing the 
Rajah restored to his own true shape. 

The carcass of the ram was carried away 
and burned, and a great feast of rejoicing 
was proclaimed. 

So Vicram Maharajah returned to his own 
kingdom, and from that time lived happily, 
beloved by every one. 

“That is a fine story,” said the grand- 
mother, “but why do you keep rustling your 
wings all the time?” 

“I was but stretching them, for I am tired. 
I have come a long way and have told a long 
story, and now I think I will just lie down 
and rest a bit.” 

So the Wind lay down upon his bed and 
soon was snoring so that the roof shook. 
But as there was no more to hear, the old 
6o 


VICRAM MAHARAJAH 


grandam went tip-toeing about upstairs and 
downstairs in her loose slippers, for she al- 
ways had something more to do about the 
house. 


6l 


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URASHIMA 


















T HE Wind had come home in a bad 
humor. The grandam could tell 
that from the way he banged the 
door after him when he came in. 

“I wish you wouldn’t send so many clouds 
at one time,” he began, the moment he was 
inside the house. “I’m all out of breath 
blowing them along, they got up in such a 
bank.” 

“Ah, I’m getting old,” said the grand- 
mother, “and I suppose that makes me care- 

65 


WHERE THE WIND BLOWS 

less at times. But sit down here, and your 
breath will soon come back to you.” 

She herself took a seat near by, with a 
great basket of snow that she was picking 
over. 

As she sat there, her hands moving busily, 
she kept glancing at the Wind every now 
and then. At last she spoke in a wheedling 
voice. 

“You needn’t pretend you haven’t 
brought home any story to-day for your poor 
old grandam, for I can see one looking out 
from back of your eyes.” 

“Well, if I have it’s a short enough one. 
I had enough to do looking after all those 
clouds.” The Wind spoke gruffly. 

“Better short than none at all,” said the 
grandmother with a sigh. “Let us hear it.” 

So the Wind cleared his throat and began 
the story of Urashima: 

Many hundreds of years ago there was a 

66 


URASHIMA 


fisher lad named Urashima, who was so 
kind-hearted that he was talked of every- 
where by his companions. 

One day when Urashima was out fishing 
he had very bad luck; for a long time he 
could not catch anything. At last, however, 
he drew up his net and found a fine large 
turtle tangled in it. 

Urashima was about to cut off its head, 
and then he began to think: “They say a 
turtle lives a thousand years,” thought he to 
himself. “Suppose this one is even a hun- 
dred years old, if I do not kill it, it might 
live nine hundred years. That is many, 
many times longer than the life of a man. 
It would be cruel to rob the poor thing of 
such a long life.” 

So thinking, Urashima threw the creature 
back into the water, where it sank slowly 
out of sight in the green waves. 

Then he turned his boat toward home. 

67 


WHERE THE WIND BLOWS 


Before he could reach the shore, however, ne 
was quite overcome with drowsiness; his 
head sank forward and he fell into a deep 
sleep. 

In his sleep the fisher lad began to dream. 
He dreamed a voice called, “Urashima! 
Urashima ! 55 and looking around he saw ris- 
ing out of the sea a woman more beautiful 
than any one he had ever imagined. 

It was this figure that had called him. 

At first Urashima was frightened, but the 
woman spoke to him, bidding him have no 
fear. She then told him that she was the 
daughter of the sea-god and had been sent 
there to test him and see whether he was in 
truth as good-hearted as every one said. 

“For this purpose / 5 she continued, “I took 
upon me the shape of a turtle and allowed 
myself to be caught in your net. You had 
caught nothing else, but rather than deprive 
the poor creature of the hundreds of years 
68 


URASHIMA 


that might remain to it, you started home 
empty-handed. My father is now satisfied, 
and if you wish you shall be my husband and 
come with me to the Island of Delight that 
he has prepared for us.” 

Urashima was so filled with joy at the 
idea of having this beautiful fairy for a 
wife, that it awoke him from his dream. 

He was alone upon the sea, with only the 
wide waters and the great arch of sky; his 
boat was moving smoothly and swiftly 
through the waves, as though drawn by un- 
seen hands. 

On and on it went, swifter than the wind, 
until suddenly Urashima saw before him an 
island, and a gilded palace surrounded by 
trees that glittered in the sun. 

The boat ran up smoothly upon a beach, 
and there awaiting him stood the beautiful 
woman whom he had seen in his dream. 

Knowing her to be the daughter of the 

69 


WHERE THE WIND BLOWS 


water god, Urashima would have fallen 
down before her; but she took him by the 
hand, and, speaking to him kindly, led him 
up under the jewelled branches of the trees 
to the golden castle. 

Here a magnificent feast was already pre- 
pared for them. There was a sound of 
music, and the poor fisher lad was seated in 
the place of honor, while the beautiful fairy 
herself waited upon him, and fanned him as 
he sat. 

Many servants moved noiselessly to and 
fro. They were magnificently dressed, but 
it seemed to Urashima that they were no 
more nor less than fishes, crabs, turtles, and 
other water things. 

After the feast the lady again asked him 
whether he were willing to be her husband, 
and he said, yes. 

So they were married, and after that the 
fisher lad lived on the island and saw no one 
70 


URASHIMA 


but his wife and the strange servants. The 
time did not seem long, however, for there 
were feasts and various entertainments. 
They bathed in the still clear waters from 
the beaches of the island, and walked under 
the trees loaded with jewelled fruit. 

But at the end of three years, Urashima 
began to long to see his own land once more, 
and his father and the lads with whom he 
had played as a boy. 

This longing grew stronger and stronger 
until all his cheerfulness left him. One day 
his wife said to him: 

“Tell me, Urashima, why are you so sad? 
Have you not everything here that your 
heart could wish?” 

Then he answered her, “Your father has 
indeed been most generous in giving me this 
beautiful island and all it contains, but yet 
I think and think of my home and long to 
see it. If I could but see it once more then 
71 


WHERE THE WIND BLOWS 


I would be content to live here forever 
after.” 

At this his wife began to weep. “If I let 
you go,” she said, “I will never see you 
again; I feel that you will never return to 
me.” 

“How can you say that?” answered Ura- 
shima. “I have never been so happy in all 
my life as I have been here. Only let me 
go, and I will certainly return in three days’ 
time.” 

The water god’s daughter could refuse 
him nothing, so at last she consented that he 
should go. She led him down to the water 
and showed him where his boat lay. As 
Urashima stepped into it, his wife handed 
him a beautiful lacquered box tied with silk. 

“Take this with you, my beloved,” she 
said; “as long as you keep it safely no harm 
can come to you ; but, whatever happens, do 
not open it, or I shall never see you again.” 

72 



“TAKE THIS BOX WITH YOU, MY BELOVED, BUT, WHATEVER HAPPENS, 

DO NOT OPEN IT.” 


9 


URASHIMA 


Urashima took the box and promised to 
obey her. Then invisible hands seemed to 
seize the boat by the keel, and away it sped 
through the water, smoothly, and swifter 
than the wind. 

Soon Urashima saw before him his own 
land. He saw the shore and the beach 
where he had played as a boy, but there was 
a strange look about it all which he could 
not understand. 

He landed and gazed about him. Every- 
thing was different ; the houses, the trees, the 
people he saw, — there was not one familiar 
face. He hurried on toward the place where 
his home had stood, but the spot was bare 
and deserted ; no signs that any building had 
ever been there. 

Seeing an old, old man coming toward 
him, Urashima went to meet him. 

“Tell me,” said he, “where is the house 
that used to stand here, the house of 
73 


WHERE THE WIND BLOWS 


Urashima? And what has become of Ura- 
shima’ s father?” 

The old man stared. 

“What do you mean?” he asked. “What 
are you talking about? As long as I re- 
member there has been no house here. I 
remember my old grandfather used to tell of 
a hut that once stood here, and belonged to 
a man whose son was named Urashima. 
But the lad was lost in his boat at sea and 
never seen again. All that, however, hap- 
pened long, long since ; three hundred years 
ago. I do not suppose any one even remem- 
bers hearing of him except myself, for I am 
very old.” 

When Urashima heard this, he began to 
understand what had happened. He had 
been living in an enchanted island, and in- 
stead of its having been only three years it 
was three hundred years that he had been 
74 


URASHIMA 

away; every one whom he had known had 
died long ago. 

Urashima felt so frightened that he rushed 
away to the seashore where he had left his 
boat. But he did not know what to do. 
He was bewildered. He did not know how 
he was to get back to the enchanted island. 

Then he saw the lacquered box which he 
still held, and in his bewilderment he 
thought there might be something in it that 
would help him. He slipped off the silk 
that tied it and opened the lid. As soon as 
he did so, a white mist rushed out of the 
box; it spread above his head and then 
gathered together into a small cloud and 
floated off across the sea. It was the youth 
of Urashima. 

Immediately he began to grow old. His 
hair became thin and white; his face fell 
together in wrinkles; his eyes grew dim. 

75 


WHERE THE WIND BLOWS 


He was no longer a youth but an old, old 
man. Then, with a quavering cry he fell 
forward upon the sand beside the box. 
Urashima was dead. 

So that was the end of the story and short 
enough it was, but not another word would 
the Wind tell. He had not yet gotten back 
his temper, even if he had his breath. 


76 





THE MAGIC MIRROR 




















CC T CAME over the 
roofs to-day so 
fast that the 
weather-cocks creaked,” 
said the Wind. “ A 
stork had built her nest 
on a chimney; loose sticks. 
You’d have thought they’d 
have blown away. But 
the mother-stork flattened 
herself over it. She spread 
out her wings and sheltered it safe. 

“They were telling stories down in the 
nursery below. I made myself little and 
slipped through the chink of the window to 
listen. I knew you’d want me to have 


79 


WHERE THE WIND BLOWS 


something to tell you when I got home, and 
this is what I heard:” 

Once upon a time a queen sat in an ebony 
chair sewing, and as she sewed she pricked 
her finger and a drop of blood fell upon the 
linen. 

“I wish,” said the queen, “that I had a 
daughter, and that her skin was as white as 
linen, her cheeks as red as blood, and her 
hair as black as ebony.” 

Soon after this a little daughter was born 
to the queen, and it was as she had wished; 
the child’s skin was as white as linen, her 
cheeks as red as blood, and her hair as black 
as ebony. On account of her beautiful skin, 
the little one was named Snow White; but 
soon after she was born, the mother died. 

Before long the king married again, and 
the new queen was so beautiful that no one 
in the world could compare with her. 

She had a mirror that she prized above all 

8o 


THE MAGIC MIRROR 


her possessions, for it was a magic mirror and 
knew everything, and when the queen ques- 
tioned it, it would answer. Every day she 
sat before it, brushing and braiding her long 
hair. Then before she left the room she 
would say: 

“Shining mirror on the wall, 

Who is the fairest one of all ? ,? 

And the mirror would answer: 

“Oh lovely queen, thou art so fair 
That no one can with thee compare.” 

Then the queen would be content. 

But as Snow White grew older she grew 
lovelier and lovelier until the stepmother 
was frightened at her beauty. 

One time the queen was dressing for a 
great ball, and when the last jewel was 
clasped and the last flower in place, she 
stepped before the mirror and asked as 
usual : 


Where the wind blows 


“Shining mirror on the wall, 

Who is the fairest of us all?” 

Then the mirror made answer : 

“Oh queen, as lovely as you are, 

The maid Snow White is fairer far.” 

When the queen heard this it was as 
though something hot had struck through 
her heart. After that she had no rest nor 
peace for thinking of Snow White’s beauty. 
At last she could bear it no longer. She sent 
for a huntsman and bade him take the girl 
into the forest and kill her, and to bring 
back her heart as a sign that she was really 
dead. 

But the huntsman had a good heart. He 
could not do such a deed. He led the 
maiden far away and deep into the forest, 
and there he told her all that the queen had 
bade him do. Snow White when she heard 
began to weep and tremble, but the hunts- 
82 


THE MAGIC MIRROR 


man said : “Do not be afraid. Not a drop 
of your blood shall be shed. I will shoot 
a young deer, taking its heart to the queen 
and telling her it is yours. Then she will 
think you are dead. But go you whereso- 
ever you will, only do not let her ever see 
or hear of you again.” 

Snow White promised to obey this, and 
then, weeping bitterly, she ran away into the 
forest. She ran on and on, further than she 
had ever been before. Just as she was quite 
exhausted, she saw before her a little house. 
She crept to it and knocked, but no one 
answered her. Then she pushed the door 
open and looked inside. 

Within was a pleasant room with a fire 
burning brightly. Seven little chairs were 
set around a table and on it stood seven 
bowls of steaming broth; but there was no 
one to be seen. 

Snow White stepped inside, thinking it 

83 


WHERE THE WIND BLOWS 


would be no harm to sit down on one of the 
chairs and rest a bit. Just as she seated her- 
self, however, she heard footsteps approach- 
ing. She felt frightened and jumped up 
and ran over to a closet, in which she hid. 

Scarcely was she out of sight when the 
seven dwarfs to whom the house belonged 
came in. They looked about the room and 
one of them said: 

“Someone has been here while we were 
away. See how the chairs are drawn 
about / 5 

“Yes, that is true , 55 said another, “and as 
we met nobody in the forest, whoever it was 
must still be here . 55 

The dwarfs began hunting about, and 
presently they opened the door of the closet 
where Snow White was hiding. When they 
saw her they wondered at her beauty, and 
asked her who she was and whence she had 


come. 


84 


THE MAGIC MIRROR 


“My name is Snow White,” answered the 
maiden, “and my father is a king.” Then 
she told them all her story: how her cruel 
stepmother had tried to destroy her, and 
how the huntsman had granted her her life 
and had sent her away into the forest. 

The dwarfs listened, and as they saw how 
gentle and sweet she was they marvelled 
that any one could have had the heart to 
plan evil against her. 

After she had ended her story the eldest 
dwarf looked around at the others. They 
all nodded their heads. Then he asked her 
to stay there with them and keep their house 
in order. 

“If you will do this,” he said, “we will be 
your faithful servants, and you shall be our 
mistress, and whatever you command shall 
be done.” 

Snow White thanked the dwarfs grate- 
fully, and was very glad to think she might 

85 


WHERE THE WIND BLOWS 


stay there with them in their little house. 
So for a long time she lived there, and the 
dwarfs loved her and were so proud of her 
beauty that they thought nothing good 
enough for her. 

Meanwhile the wicked stepmother was in 
great content, for after the huntsman re- 
turned bringing her the heart, she was sure 
Snow White was dead, and she knew well 
that the maiden was the only one who could 
compare with her in beauty. So sure was 
she of this that she never even thought of 
speaking with her mirror. 

But one day, when she had been dressing 
herself before it, she idly asked : 

“Shining mirror on the wall, 

Who is the fairest of us all?” 

Then the mirror answered: 

“Oh queen, as lovely as you are, 

The maid Snow White is fairer far. 

86 


THE MAGIC MIRROR 


The dwarfs her beauty safely keep 
Within the forest green and deep.” 

When the queen heard this she turned as 
pale as ashes. She said nothing to any one, 
however, but she set to work and stained 
her face brown and put on the dress of a 
poor woman. On her arm she took a bas- 
ket filled with pins and beads and laces and 
other things, and thus she set out into the 
forest. 

She walked on and on, and after awhile 
she came to the dwarf’s house (for her magic 
taught her which way to go). There was 
Snow White herself standing in the door- 
way, with her eyes as bright as stars and 
her cheeks as red as blood. 

“Good-day, my pretty bird,” said the 
wicked queen. “Will you not buy some- 
thing from me?” 

“What have you for sale, good mother?” 
responded Snow White; for she did not 

87 


WHERE THE WIND BLOWS 


recognize the queen under her disguise. 

Then the queen showed her one thing af- 
ter another. 

At last she held up some silken laces. 

“Here is something,” she said, “that is 
worth having. Do but let me lace you up, 
and you will see how fine you look.” 

To this Snow White consented, for she 
feared no evil. 

The stepmother began to lace her up. 
Then suddenly she drew the silken cords so 
tightly that Snow White could not breathe. 
The color left her face, and she fell upon 
the floor as though she was dead. The 
queen stood looking at her with an evil 
smile. 

“Yes, there you lie,” she said, “and Snow 
White you are indeed; too white to be the 
fairest of us all.” Then she turned and 
went away, leaving the poor girl where she 
lay. 


88 


THE MAGIC MIRROR 


After she had been gone some time, the 
dwarfs came home. Great was their grief 
to find their dear Snow White lying there 
apparently dead. They began to chafe her 
hands and feet, and one of them cut the 
laces of her stays. As soon as he did that, 
Snow White began to breathe; the color re- 
turned to her cheeks, and she raised her- 
self. 

The dwarfs were filled with joy at see- 
ing her revive, and began to question her 
as to how she came to be in a swoon. 

As soon as she told them her story, they 
knew that the woman who had done this ill 
turn must have been the wicked stepmother. 
They warned Snow White that she must 
never again let anyone into the house while 
they were away. 

But the queen had hastened back to the 
palace well pleased with what she had done. 
She felt sure that now the maiden was in- 

89 


WHERE THE WIND BLOWS 


deed dead, and that she was once more 
beautiful beyond compare. 

But when she stood before her mirror, and 
asked it : 

“Shining mirror on the wall, 

Who is the fairest one of all ?” 

the mirror made answer : 

“Oh, queen, as lovely as you are, 

The maid Snow White is fairer far. 

Within the forest dark and deep, 

The dwarfs her beauty safely keep.” 

When the queen heard that, she was like 
to swoon. “Can I never rid myself of the 
girl ?” she muttered. “Once more I will try, 
and this time she shall not escape me . 55 

And now she disguised herself again so 
that no one would ever have known her, and 
took her way through the forest to the 
dwarfs’ house. When she reached there she 
found the door closed. So she knocked. 
90 


THE MAGIC MIRROR 


Then Snow White looked from the window. 

“You must go further, good mother / 5 she 
said. “I am forbidden to open the door or 
to let any one in.” 

The old woman (as she seemed to be), 
sighed. 

“Is this true ? 55 she asked. “Then I will 
but sit down on your doorstep to rest, for I 
have come far . 55 

“Rest yourself and welcome , 55 said Snow 
White. “But what have you in your 
pack ? 55 For she was curious, and she never 
saw any one there in the forest except the 
dwarfs. 

“Oh, I have many things , 55 answered the 
queen, and she began to take out one thing 
after another, holding them up for the girl 
to see. At last she took out a golden comb, 
very beautifully wrought. It was a poi- 
soned comb, though this Snow White could 
not know. 


91 


WHERE THE WIND BLOWS 


When the girl saw the comb she thought 
she had never seen anything so beautiful in 
all her life. 

“Ah, yes,” sighed the queen, “but if you 
would but let me twist up your hair with 
the comb, then you would see how beautiful 
it is.” 

Then the maiden forgot the warnings of 
the dwarfs, and, opening the door, she al- 
lowed the stepmother to come in. 

The queen began to twist up the girl’s 
hair, but suddenly she stuck the poisoned 
comb into Snow White’s head, so that she 
fell down as though dead. 

The stepmother stood looking at her for 
a moment. 

“Twice you have escaped me, Snow 
White,” she whispered, “but this time the 
dwarfs may try to help you in vain.” Then 
she hastened back the way she had come to 
the castle. 


92 


THE MAGIC MIRROR 

When the dwarfs came home how great 
was their grief to find their dear Snow White 
once more lying on the floor as pale as death. 
They chafed her hands; they cut her laces, 
but all to no avail. Then one of them, with 
sharper eyes than the rest, saw the comb 
amidst her jet black hair. He drew it out, 
and immediately she began to revive. 

When she was herself again, they re- 
proached her with having forgotten their 
advice. Snow White acknowledged her 
wrongdoing, and promised that she would 
not again forget their advice. Still the 
dwarfs were very anxious, for they knew 
now how bitterly the stepmother hated her. 
They also told her she must not buy any- 
thing again, whoever might offer it. 

When the queen reached her castle, she 
went directly to her magic mirror. 

“Shining mirror on the wall, 

Who now is fairest of us all 

93 


WHERE THE WIND BLOWS 


she demanded. She had thought the mirror 
would say she was the fairest, but instead 
it made answer : 

“Oh, queen, as lovely as you are, 

The maid Snow White is fairer far. 

The dwarfs her beauty safely keep 
Within the forest green and deep. ,, 

When the queen heard this, she felt as 
though her heart would burst. 

“What! does she still live?” she whis- 
pered between her teeth. “This time I will 
see to it that nothing can save her.” 

Then she took some paste and made of 
it a most beautiful apple ; one side was white 
and one side was red. The white side might 
safely be eaten and no harm come of it, but 
the red side was poisoned so that no one 
might eat of it and live. After that the 
queen disguised herself as an apple-woman 
94 


THE MAGIC MIRROR 


and taking a basket on her arm she started 
out into the forest. 

She went on and on until she came to the 
dwarf’s house, ‘and then she began crying 
her fruit. 

“Apples! Apples fine and sweet! 

Juicy apples! Buy and eat. 

Best and ripest fruit I cry, 

Pretty maidens come and buy !” 

At this Snow White, who had heard her 
voice, appeared at the window. 

“You must go further, my good woman/’ 
she said to the queen. “There is no one here 
to buy your fruit.” 

“Is that the case?” asked the stepmother. 
“Then it is a great pity. Only look how 
fine my apples are.” 

So saying she took off the cover from her 
basket. When Snow White saw the fruit 
95 


WHERE THE WIND BLOWS 


her mouth watered, but she remembered the 
advice of the dwarfs. 

“All the same, I must not buy,” she said, 
“for I have been forbidden to, and the door 
is locked.” 

“Then because I have come so far, and 
for the love of your pretty face, I will give 
you one;” and as she spoke the queen took 
the poisoned apple from her basket and held 
it up to Snow White. The girl longed for 
it greatly, but still she refused, for she re- 
membered all the dwarfs had said. 

“What do you fear?” asked the queen. 
“See I will eat part of it and you shall have 
the rest.” Then she ate a piece from the 
white side, and the red part — the poisoned 
part — she held up for Snow White to take. 
The maiden could resist no longer. She 
took the apple and bit a piece from the red 
part. But when she tried to swallow it, it 
stuck in her throat and she fell down, seem- 


THE MAGIC MIRROR 


ingly dead. The queen looked in through 
the window with an evil smile. 

“So my beauty, not all the good advice 
could save you,” she said. “This time the 
dwarfs may try in vain to help you.” 

Then she hurried back through the forest 
to her castle. Straight to her magic mirror 
she went and asked it: 

“Shining mirror on the wall, 

Who is the fairest one of all?” 

The mirror made answer : 

“Thou art the fairest, lovely queen.” 

When she heard that her heart swelled 
with joy, for now she was assured that Snow 
White was dead. 

When the dwarfs returned home and 
found Snow White lying there cold and 
senseless for the third time, they tried every- 
thing they could to help her. They cut her 
97 


WHERE THE WIND BLOWS 


laces and let down her beautiful black hair, 
but nothing did any good. Then they were 
obliged to believe that this time the dear 
maiden was really dead. 

However, the color did not leave Snow 
White’s cheeks, and she looked so beautiful 
that they could not make up their minds 
to bury her. Instead they made a glass 
chest and put her in it, so that they could 
always see her, and upon the lid they wrote 
her name in golden letters. 

One day a young king came riding past 
the dwarfs’ house, and there he saw the glass 
box with Snow White lying in it. As soon 
as his eyes fell upon the maiden, his 
heart melted within him because of her 
beauty. He began to beg and plead with 
the dwarfs to give her to him. 

For a long time they refused, but at last 
when they saw how dearly he loved her, they 
98 


THE MAGIC MIRROR 


had pity on him, and gave him the crystal 
casket with Snow White in it. 

The young king bade some of his attend- 
ants raise it upon their shoulders and carry 
it, and he himself rode close beside them as 
they walked, so that he could keep his eyes 
upon Snow White’s face as it showed 
through the glass. 

They had travelled in this way for some 
distance toward the king’s castle when one 
of the men stumbled; this jarred the casket 
so that the piece of apple was loosened from 
the maiden’s throat and she could breathe. 
Then to the joy and astonishment of the 
young king, he saw her eyes open and gaze 
at him with wonder. 

Instantly he commanded the attendants 
to place the crystal box upon the ground. 
Raising the lid he took Snow White by 
the hands and lifted her to her feet. 
99 


WHERE THE WIND BLOWS 


The maiden looked about her wonderingly. 

‘Where am I, and how came I here?” she 
asked. 

Then the young king told her everything 
that had happened since the dwarfs found 
her stretched senseless upon the floor; he 
told it just as they had related it to him. 
He also told her how, from the time he first 
saw her, his heart had been filled with love 
for her, and he asked her if she would be 
his queen. 

Then blushing red the maiden placed her 
hand in his and promised that she would be 
his. 

Filled with joy, the king carried her 
home, and preparations were immediately 
made for a most magnificent wedding. 
Many kings and queens and great people 
were asked, and among others Snow White’s 
father and her stepmother. 

The wicked queen dressed herself with 

too 


THE MAGIC MIRROR 


the greatest magnificence for the marriage 
feast. When at last she was all ready to 
start, she stepped before the magic mirror. 
There she stood gazing and smiling at her 
own beauty. At last she asked it: 

“Shining mirror on the wall, 

Who is the fairest one of all?” 

Then the mirror made answer : 

“Oh, queen, as lovely as you are, 

The young king’s bride is fairer far.” 

When the stepmother heard that she 
could hardly breathe, and her face turned 
all colors. However, she got into her 
coach and drove away to the wedding, for 
she felt she must see the beautiful bride who 
was lovelier than she. But when she went 
in and stood face to face with the bride and 
saw it was no other than Snow White her- 
self, it was more than she could bear. Her 
heart quite burst with envy and terror, so 
101 


WHERE THE WIND BLOWS 


that she fell down dead at the bride’s feet. 

But Snow White married the king and 
lived in great peace and happiness ever af- 
ter, often visited by her faithful friends, the 
dwarfs of the wood. 

“Now that is the way a story should end,” 
cried the old grandmother. “Nobody dy- 
ing but the wicked one. That’s better than 
the end of Urashima; and a longer story 
too.” 

“Ah well, many stories, many endings,” 
said the Wind, “and you must take them as 
they come, granny, though I try my best to 
please you.” 


102 


THE RED SWAN 





k 


* 




















♦ 
















44 T WILL tell you a story of the West,” 
said the Wind to his grandmother. 
“Did I ever tell you of the Indian 
youth Odjibwa and the Red Swan?” 

No, that was a new tale to the grandam, 
so the Wind began : 

There were once three brothers who were 
left all alone by the death of their father 
and mother. 

They lived deep in the forest away from 
any tribe ; never had even seen a human be- 
ing except themselves. However, they 
managed to get along ; they made bows and 
105 


WHERE THE WIND BLOWS 


arrows and taught themselves how to shoot 
and fish. 

One day when they had grown tall and 
strong, they laid a wager with each other. 
They were to start out in three directions; 
each was to shoot the game which he was 
most skilful in killing; anything else he was 
not to shoot. They would see which would 
bring something home first. 

They turned their backs on each other and 
started walking. 

Odjibwa, the youngest, went toward the 
West, the land of the setting sun. Before 
long he saw a bear. It was coming straight 
toward him. This was not the game which, 
by the agreement, he was to kill, but he 
drew his bow and shot. The arrow pierced 
the bear and it fell dead. 

Odjibwa hastened to the animal and be- 
gan to skin it. Then everything turned red 
as blood around him. He thought it must 
106 


THE RED SWAN 


be his eyes, and rubbed them; still all the 
air seemed red. 

At the same time he heard a voice sing- 
ing. It sounded from a lake not far away. 

Odjibwa left the bear and stole through 
the bushes toward the lake. When he 
reached its edge, he saw a Red Swan float- 
ing about on it and singing. Such a thing 
he had never seen before. 

He wished to have the bird, so he drew 
an arrow from his quiver and shot. The 
arrow flew straight. It struck the swan in 
the breast, but bounded back without harm- 
ing it, and the swan still sang. Odjibwa 
shot again and again, but the swan paid no 
attention to the arrows. 

Suddenly the youth remembered three 
magic arrows that were in his father’s medi- 
cine sack. It seemed wrong to dream of 
taking them. Still he wished greatly to get 
the swan. 


107 


WHERE THE WIND BLOWS 


He ran home, opened the sack and took 
out the arrows, thinking he would tell his 
brothers of it afterward. 

When he ran back to the lake, the swan 
was still there. 

He fitted the first magic arrow to his bow, 
and shot, but it fell to the right of the bird. 
The next arrow fell to the left of it. He 
had now only one left. This one he aimed 
with the greatest care before he let it go. 
It flew and pierced the swan right through 
the neck. 

The bird was not killed, however. It 
rose with the arrow still sticking in it, and 
flew away toward the West. 

Odjibwa waded into the lake and gath- 
ered up the other two magic arrows. He 
put them in his quiver, and then returning 
to land, set out running in the direction in 
which the swan had flown. He was sure it 
must soon fall to the earth ; expected to find 
108 



THE LAST ARROW ODJIBWA AIMED WITH THE GREATEST CARE BEFORE HE LET IT GO. 





THE RED SWAN 


it every moment. Still he saw nothing: 

Odjibwa could run very fast; so fast that 
when he shot an arrow ahead of him, and 
ran at full speed, the arrow would fall be- 
hind him. 

Toward dusk he heard a watchman 
(Mudjee-Koko-koho) calling “We are 
visited.” The next moment he came within 
sight of a large village. A great crowd of 
people came out to meet him. Odjibwa 
had never seen anybody but his two brothers 
before. 

They took him to the lodge of the chief. 
There he was treated with great respect, 
pointed to a seat, and something given him 
to eat. As he was a stranger, very few 
questions were asked him. 

Odjibwa was hungry. He ate in silence. 
Then he asked them whether a Red Swan 
had passed that way, flying over their vil- 
lage. They said it had. 

109 


WHERE THE WIND BLOWS 


“At what time?” Odjibwa questioned. 

“When the sun was between midday and 
its falling place,” answered the chief. 
“Too long ago for you to catch it. Rest 
here for the night and to-morrow you can 
go on your way.” Then turning to his 
daughter he said, “Do you take our son-in- 
law’s moccasins ; mend them, and hang them 
up ” 

Odjibwa thought it strange that he should 
be married to the girl in this way, without 
being asked anything about it. Still, she 
was very pretty, and he said nothing. 

The girl took his moccasins, but she 
scowled and looked so unwilling that he 
snatched them from her; hung them up him- 
self. 

Then he lay down, thinking of the Red 
Swan, and meaning to start the first thing 
in the morning. 

Early the next day, before dawning, he 

no 


THE RED SWAN 


touched the girl on the shoulder. “Which 
way went the Red Swan?’ he asked. 

Without speaking, the girl pointed to- 
ward the West. 

Odjibwa slipped on his moccasins and 
started out. He ran on and on. Think- 
ing he might have lost some of his swiftness, 
he fitted an arrow in his bow and shot it 
ahead of him. Then he ran in the same 
direction; went so fast that the arrow fell 
behind him. That satisfied him. 

Still he saw nothing of the Red Swan. 

Toward twilight he heard a watchman 
crying, “A stranger approaches,” and came 
within sight of a second village. 

He was conducted to the lodge of the 
chief. Food was set out for him. “Sit 
there,” said the chief, and he pointed to a 
seat beside his daughter. She was a very 
pretty girl; she laughed and jumped up and 
ran away; hid herself in a corner. 

Ill 


WHERE THE WIND BLOWS 

“Come and wait upon our son-in-law,” 
said the chief. Then she came out from the 
corner, but she kept laughing all the time. 

Odjibwa thought it strange he should be 
married in this way, without his wishing it, 
but he said nothing. 

After he had eaten, he asked whether the 
Red Swan had passed that way. 

“It flew over the village yesterday at sun- 
set,” answered the chief; “too long ago for 
you to catch up with it.” 

Odjibwa said nothing further. He took 
off his moccasins and hung them up, but he 
intended to follow the swan as soon as it 
was light. 

Very early the next morning he touched 
the girl and woke her. “Which way was 
it the swan was flying?” he asked. 

The girl looked at him sadly, and pointed 
toward the West. “Do you think you can 
overtake it?” she asked. 


1 12 


THE RED SWAN 


“I shall try,” he answered 

He set out running. After a time, fear- 
ing he might not be running as fast as he 
did, he took an arrow and shot it ahead of 
him. Then he ran in the same direction. 
The arrow fell behind him. Odjibwa was 
content, and hastened on. 

Toward the end of the day he came to 
a solitary lodge. 

He went toward it, but before he could 
enter a voice said, “Come in, my son.” 

He entered. There sat an old man. He 
did not look at Odjibwa, but told him to 
sit down. Then he said, “My pot stands 
by the fire.” Immediately an earthernware 
pot came out from a corner of the lodge, and 
placed itself before the fire. At that, Od- 
jibwa knew his host must be a magician. 

The old man took one whortleberry and 
one grain of corn and put them in the pot. 
Odjibwa, who was very hungry, thought 
113 


WHERE THE WIND BLOWS 


this was not much of a meal. Still he said 
nothing. 

The water began to boil in the pot. Af- 
ter a time the old man said, “My pot stands 
back from the fire.” Then the pot moved 
back as he said. “Help yourself, my son,” 
said the magician. 

The youth looked in the pot. It was full. 
He took down a dish and ladle. He was so 
hungry that he helped himself to all that 
was in the pot. When he had finished, the 
old man said the second time, “Help your- 
self, my son.” Odjibwa looked in the pot. 
It was again full. He again took all there 
was in it. He did this several times, until 
his hunger was satisfied ; always the pot was 
full. 

When he had had all he wished, the ma- 
gician said, “My pot stands in the corner.” 
Immediately the pot removed itself to the 
corner of the lodge whence it had come. 
114 


THE RED SWAN 


The old man began to talk with Odjibwa; 
told him he knew why he was there. “It 
depends on your guardian spirits / 5 he said; 
“if they are powerful, you will find the Red 
Swan in the end. You are going in the 
right direction, but you have still far to go . 55 

Odjibwa felt encouraged. He hung up 
his moccasins, and spent the night in the 
lodge with the old man. The next morn- 
ing, he set out again, still in the same direc- 
tion. 

At nightfall he saw a light shining out 
from a lodge. As he approached it, a voice 
called, “Come in, my son / 5 There beside 
the fire sat an old man ; older even than the 
other magician. 

Odjibwa entered and the old man bade 
him be seated. Presently he said, “My 
pot stands by the fire . 55 Out from a dark 
corner came a pot. It seemed to dance 
along. It stood itself by the fire. Od- 
115 


WHERE THE WIND BLOWS 


jibwa, who was very hungry, wondered 
when the supper would be put in to cook. 

After a time the old man said, “My pot 
is full; help yourself, my son.” 

The youth looked in the pot. It was full. 
He helped himself ; ate till he was satisfied. 
Then the magician said, “My pot stands in 
the corner;” immediately the pot danced 
back to the corner where it stood quietly. 

The old man then told Od jibwa that he 
knew why he was there. To go on as he 
had begun, and he might succeed in making 
the Red Swan his own, but he had still far 
to go. 

That night the youth rested with the ma- 
gician, and the next day he started out, fol- 
lowing the course of the Red Swan. 

Toward dark he reached another lodge. 
As he came near it, he heard a voice calling, 
“Come in, come in, my son.” He entered. 
There sat an old man, older than either of 
116 


THE RED SWAN 


the others; looked as though he might be 
their grandfather. 

“Seat yourself, my son,” he said. Scarce- 
ly was Odjibwa seated when a pot came 
whirling out from a corner of the lodge, set 
itself down by the fire with a bump and be- 
gan boiling and bubbling away. 

After a time the old man said, “My pot 
is full. Eat, my son.” 

Odjibwa looked in the pot and found it 
was so. He helped himself and made a 
hearty supper. 

As soon as he had finished, and before the 
magician could speak, the pot whirled away 
to its corner again. 

When all was quiet, the old man began to 
address Odjibwa. “I know why you are 
here,” he said, “and your errand is a danger- 
ous one; very difficult. The Red Swan that 
you are following is the sister of a great 
magician. 


117 


WHERE THE WIND BLOWS 

“This magician once wore a cap of wam- 
pum, in which was much of his magic. But 
a great chief sent messengers to him one 
time, saying his daughter was ill; nothing 
could cure her but a sight of that cap. For 
a long time the magician would not let them 
have it. At last he took it off and gave it 
to them, but his scalp came off with it. 
They were to return it as soon as the girl 
had seen it, for his head was left raw and 
bloody till the cap was restored. 

“But the chief had only wished to gain 
possession of the cap. He was jealous of 
the magician’s power. He now keeps the 
scalp in his village on a pole, exposed to the 
insults of all his tribe. At every insult 
the magician groans with pain. 

“Many warriors,” the old man continued, 
“have tried to regain the scalp for the sake 
of the Red Swan, but so far they have only 
118 


THE RED SWAN 


perished in the attempt. But you may be 
the one to succeed/' 

He then warned Odjibwa that when he 
reached the lodge of the magician he would 
be asked to tell all his dreams. This he 
must be careful to do, for it would depend 
on his dreams whether he would be able to 
succeed. 

Odjibwa listened to the old man with 
great attention. He promised to follow his 
directions exactly. 

Early the next morning he set out run- 
ning, and before evening he saw a lodge. 
Long before he reached it he heard some 
one groaning inside. “Come in, come in," 
called a voice. Odjibwa entered. There 
sat an old man with head in his hands. He 
was groaning terribly. “Sit down, sit 
down," he said. 

The youth sat down in silence. After a 
119 


WHERE THE WIND BLOWS 


time the magician said, “You see I am all 
alone here. No one to attend to my wants. 
But tell me what are your dreams?” 

Odjibwa had noticed that one part of the 
lodge was shut off from the rest, and every 
now and then he heard a rustling from it. 
However, he said nothing; he began to tell 
his dreams. At every one the old man be- 
gan to groan. “No, no,” he would say, 
“that is not it.” 

The young man grew angry; thought he 
would not tell any more. “Have you had 
no other dreams?” asked the magician. 
“Any of a different kind ?” 

“I have had one more,” said Odjibwa and 
he began to tell it. 

“That is it!” cried the magician joyfully. 
“That is it.” Then he seized his head in 
his hands and began to groan. “Oh how 
they are insulting my poor scalp,” he cried. 

Odjibwa was eager to set off after the cap. 

120 


THE RED SWAN 


“Yes, go, go,” said the magician. “It 
may be you will succeed, for no one else 
ever had a dream that came so near it as 
yours.” 

He then told Odjibwa in what direction 
he must go to reach the village of the enemy, 
and the young man set out as he was di- 
rected. 

He went along for some distance, until 
he heard a humming noise. After he had 
listened awhile he made out that it was the 
noise of a great crowd of people shouting 
and yelling. 

He then changed himself into a hawk and 
flew in that direction. 

Soon he came to a village and there was 
a great crowd. In the middle was a tall 
pole upon which hung a bloody scalp. The 
people were dancing the war dance about it, 
throwing things at it, and insulting it. 

After watching them for a few moments, 
121 


WHERE THE WIND BLOWS 


Odjibwa changed himself into a piece of 
thistledown and floated to the scalp. No 
one noticed him. 

He untied the scalp and tried to float off 
with it. It was almost too heavy. It car- 
ried him down until he was almost within 
reach of the people. 

They shouted aloud, trying to catch it. 
“It is taken from us! It is taken from us!” 
they cried. 

But a wind came, lifting Odjibwa and his 
prize out of their reach. Then he turned 
himself into a hawk again, and holding the 
scalp in his beak flew back toward the 
magician’s lodge. 

The magician was so eager for his arrival 
that he was leaning half out of the lodge. 

When quite near him Odjibwa took upon 
him his real shape. Running toward the 
old man, he clapped the scalp upon the 
bloody head with such force that it knocked 
122 


THE RED SWAN 


the magician back insensible. For a while 
Odjibwa was afraid he had killed the old 
man but presently he began to revive. 

What was Odjibwa’s amazement to see 
him no longer an old man, but a young man, 
very handsome and dignified. 

“Thank you, my brother,” he said. 
“You see how your bravery has broken the 
charm, and restored me to my own true 
shape.” 

He then begged Odjibwa to stay there 
with him for a few days. This the youth 
did. All the while he was there, his 
thoughts were filled with the Red Swan, but 
as the young magician never spoke of her, 
he did not mention her either. 

At last, the morning when he was going 
away, his host said: “I know why you 
came here; that it was in search of the Red 
Swan. You have not spoken of it, but I 
have known what was in your mind.” 

123 


WHERE THE WIND BLOWS 


He then stepped to the other side of the 
lodge, that had remained shut off all these 
days. He drew aside a hanging and there 
stood the Red Swan. She was the most 
beautiful woman that ever was seen. She 
lit up all the lodge with a rosy glow. 
“Take her / 5 said the magician; “she is my 
sister, and she is very ready to go with you . 55 

He then loaded Odjibwa with gifts of 
robes and wampum and belts — enough to 
make him rich all his life. 

After that they parted, Odjibwa taking 
his way homeward, followed by the Red 
Swan. 

On the way they rested with the magi- 
cians, eating from their magic pots. 

When they reached the second village at 
which Odjibwa had stayed, they were met 
and escorted to the lodge of the chief. The 
young man and the Red Swan were asked 
to sit down. Food was set before them. 
124 


THE RED SWAN 


Before eating, however, the young man 
opened one of his bags and presented gifts 
to all the principal men. 

After they had eaten, and the young man 
had smoked with the chief, he was asked to 
relate his adventures. 

This he did while all listened. When 
he ended, the chief told him that some time 
before, his brothers had come to the village 
in search of him. They merely asked for 
news of him, however, and then returned. 
“You are so strong and brave , 55 said the 
chief, “you shall take my daughter along 
with you . 55 

To this Odjibwa consented, saying he 
would give her to one of his brothers for a 
wife. 

Before this the girl had looked very sad, 
glancing from Odjibwa to the Red Swan, 
but now she brightened up ; began to laugh. 

When they departed, many of the war- 
125 


WHERE THE WIND BLOWS 


riors accompanied them to the edge of the 
next village. 

Here they were also received with much 
respect. Odjibwa presented the chief with 
gifts, and in return he gave the young man 
his daughter, as a wife for his other brother. 

Odjibwa and the Red Swan spent the 
night there, and departed the next morning, 
taking the two girls with them, and accom- 
panied by a great crowd. 

After travelling for some days, Odjibwa 
and the others reached his own lodge; he 
found it all dirty and covered with ashes. 
His brothers thinking him dead, had black- 
ened their faces, and were mourning for 
him. 

When they saw him alive and well, they 
could hardly believe it. 

He presented to them the two girls he had 
brought for them, as wives, and also a great 
deal of wampum, and from that time on, 
126 


THE RED SWAN 


they lived together in peace and happiness, 
and their town prospered and the inhabit- 
ants increased. 

“Speaking of the Red Swan,” said the 
grandmother, “I see the sun’s turning red. 
He’ll be out of sight in a moment. I’d 
better just go and give the stars a rub be- 
fore it’s time to hang them out.” 

So away she went, leaving the Wind 
sitting there alone. 


127 







THE FISHERMAN AND THE GENII 




44T'TTHAT a smell of violets,” said 
Y y the old grandam, sniffing as she 
came into the room. “You 
must have brought it with you from the 
green world down below.” 

“Yes, I did,” answered the Wind. “I 
was coming through the pine woods, and 
there in a hollow was a whole bed of violets 
and I just dropped down on them to rest a 
bit.” 

“You may thank me for those flowers,” 
said his grandmother. “That’s what comes 
of the showers I sent out day before yester- 
day; you were cross enough about all those 
clouds too, but now you see.” 

131 


WHERE THE WIND BLOWS 


“Ah well! one can’t always be in a good 
humor,” and the Wind stretched himself. 
“You shall see what a fine temper I’m in 
to-day, however, for I mean to tell you a 
long, long story, and the name of it is The 
Fisherman and the Genii.” 

There was once an old fisherman, so poor 
that he was scarcely able to support himself 
and his wife and children. 

One morning he went very early, while it 
was still moonlight, to cast his nets. 

For a long time he had no success, but at 
last, drawing his net toward the shore, he 
rejoiced to feel that it was very heavy. He 
thought he had caught a good haul of fish, 
but drawing the net in still further he found 
that it contained nothing but a large copper 
vessel, upon the leaden stopper of which was 
stamped a seal. 


132 


THE FISHERMAN AND THE GENII 


The fisherman’s first thought upon seeing 
this was that he could sell it in the town for 
enough money to supply his family with 
food. Upon examining the vessel more 
closely, however, and seeing with what care 
it was sealed, he became convinced that it 
contained something precious. 

Without much trouble he managed to pry 
off the leaden stopper, and turned the vessel 
upside down. He shook it, but nothing 
came out. He then set it down upon the 
sands and was amazed to see a dark smoke 
arise out of it. This smoke poured out, 
rolling above the fisherman, so densely that 
the shore and the sky were darkened. 

When all the smoke was out of the bottle, 
it began to take form, shaping itself into 
the gigantic figure of a genii, taller than the 
tallest giant. The fisherman was so terri- 
fied at this sight that he would fain have 
133 


WHERE THE WIND BLOWS 


fled, but his legs trembled under him; he 
could not stand, and fell down upon the 
shore. 

Looking upon him with a terrible expres- 
sion the genii spoke in these words: 
“Wretched creature, you have loosed the 
seal that the great Solomon placed upon the 
stopper in order to keep me a prisoner; I am 
free at last, and now prepare to die.” 

“Alas!” cried the fisherman, “what have 
I done to deserve death? You were a 
prisoner and I have released you, — that is 
true; but surely that was a deed that you 
should reward rather than punish.” 

“Listen,” said the genii, “and I will tell 
you something: More than eighteen hun- 
dred years ago, when Solomon, the son of 
David, was king, he required all the genii, 
whether of earth or air, to submit to him. 
Many did this, owning him as their ruler. 
I, however, was rebellious and refused to 
134 


THE FISHERMAN AND THE GENII 


submit. For this reason he compelled me 
to enter this copper vessel. He then fas- 
tened it up, sealing it with his own seal that 
I might not escape, and threw it into the 
ocean. 

“For many hundreds of years, as I lay 
there under the depths of the sea, I vowed 
to myself that if any one would release me 
I would reward him with wealth and honor, 
so that he should be among the greatest on 
earth. After long ages had passed, how- 
ever, I grew angry and swore that if any one 
should now come to set me free my first act 
would be to kill him. I will, however, 
grant you one favor: you shall be allowed 
to choose the manner of your death/’ 

The fisherman continued to beg and en- 
treat the genii to spare him, but finding him 
resolute the poor man thought of a plan 
by which he might still save his life. 

“It is hard to believe,” said he, “that a 
135 


WHERE THE WIND BLOWS 


great and powerful genii, such as you say 
you are, could have been shut up in a copper 
vessel that I could lift in my hands. Are 
you willing to swear by the great name 
graven upon the seal of Solomon that such 
was the case?” 

“I am willing to swear it by that great 
name,” said the genii. “But you yourself 
saw me coming forth from the bottle.” 

“That is true,” said the fisherman, “but I 
find it impossible to believe that my senses 
did not deceive me; nor can I believe it 
even yet unless I see how it was that you 
made yourself small enough to enter it.” 

Enraged at the fisherman’s unbelief the 
genii determined to convince him. For this 
purpose he resolved himself once more into 
a cloud, which gradually disappeared into 
the vessel until it was all gone. “Dost thou 
believe me now, fisherman?” called the 
voice of the genii from the bottle. 

136 


THE FISHERMAN AND THE GENII 


Instead of answering, the old man seized 
the stopper and fastened it in the mouth of 
the vessel. This done, “Truly I believe 
thee, genii,” he cried, “and now thou shalt 
return to the depths of the sea whence I 
drew thee. Moreover, I will build me a hut 
here upon the shore, so that I may warn all 
men who come this way against releasing 
such a monster as thou.” 

Upon hearing these words the genii was 
furious and tried to escape from the vessel, 
but in vain. He then began to implore the 
fisherman to release him once more, promis- 
ing the old man that if he would do this he 
should never want for wealth again. This 
he swore by the great name graven upon the 
seal. 

“And wilt thou also promise by that great 
name that thou will not harm me?” asked 
the fisherman. 

“That also will I promise,” answered the 
137 


WHERE THE WIND BLOWS 


genii, whereupon the fisherman once more 
removed the stopper, and the genii came 
forth. 

Upon feeling himself free the first act of 
the genii was to kick the copper vessel into 
the sea. This act filled the old man with 
fear. “Wilt thou forget thy oath to do me 
no harm?” he cried. 

The genii laughed at the terror of the old 
man. “Nay, I will not forget,” he an- 
swered. “Nor will I forget my promise 
that thou shalt possess wealth. Take up thy 
net and follow me.” 

The fisherman gathered up his net as he 
was bid, and the genii then led him away to 
a spot not far from the city, where, lying 
among four hills, was a lake as clear as 
glass. The old man looked down into it 
and it was so transparent that he could see 
the fishes swimming about in it. He could 
138 


THE FISHERMAN AND THE GENII 


even see that they were of four colors, red, 
blue, green and yellow. 

“Cast in thy net , 55 commanded the genii. 
The fisherman did as he was bid, and when 
he drew it out he found he had caught four 
fishes, one of each color. These the genii 
told him to take to the palace of the sultan. 
“Present them to him , 55 he said, “and in re- 
turn he will give you much money . 55 He 
warned the fisherman, however, that he 
must never cast his net into the lake more 
than once a day; otherwise he would surely 
have cause to repent. 

Filled with joy the old man took the fish 
and hastened to obey the genii’s advice. 
He carried them to the palace and there 
offered them to the sultan, who could not 
enough admire them, taking up each one in 
turn and examining it. The sultan then 
gave orders that they should be cooked, 

139 


WHERE THE WIND BLOWS 


doubting not that their taste would be deli- 
cious. 

The vizier himself carried them to the 
kitchen, and then returned to the sultan, 
who commanded him to give four hundred 
pieces of gold to the fisherman in return for 
his present. The fisherman, who had never 
seen so much money before, departed filled 
with joy and gratitude. 

Meanwhile the cook to whom the fish had 
been intrusted, gutted them and laid them 
in a pan to fry. When they were done 
upon one side she turned them upon the 
other. 

Immediately the wall opposite to her 
opened and there appeared a lady of marvel- 
ous beauty. She was dressed after the 
Egyptian fashion, and upon her neck and 
arms were the most magnificent necklaces 
and bracelets. In her hand she carried a 
wand of myrtle. 

140 


THE FISHERMAN AND THE GENII 


Approaching the pan where the fish lay, 
she touched it with this wand at the same 
time saying, “Fish, fish, are you doing your 
duty ? 55 Then the four fishes raised their 
heads and made answer, “We do our duty. 
If you pay your debts, we pay ours. If you 
fly, we are content . 55 

Upon hearing these words the lady over- 
turned the pan in the ashes, and disappeared 
through the opening as she had come, the 
wall closing behind her. 

The servant girl was almost dead with 
fear at all this. However, she made shift to 
gather up the fishes, but they were already 
burned to a crisp. She began to weep and 
lament over her misfortune. Just then the 
vizier came into the kitchen to see if the fish 
were ready to be served, and the cook re- 
counted to him all that had happened. He 
was greatly astonished at her story. How- 
ever, he told her to say nothing about it, 

141 


WHERE THE WIND BLOWS 


and that he would invent some tale to sat- 
isfy the sultan. 

This he did, and then sending for the 
fisherman, he asked him whether he could 
not procure four more fishes such as he had 
brought before. 

The fisherman replied that he could, but 
that he would not be able to bring them be- 
fore the next day, as he would be obliged 
to go some distance for them. This he said 
because he remembered the warning of the 
genii, not to cast his net in the lake more 
than once a day. 

On the morrow, he returned to the palace 
as he had promised, bringing with him four 
fresh fish which he had caught, and as be- 
fore each was of a different color, one red, 
one blue, one green and one yellow. 

The vizier presented the old man in re- 
turn with four hundred pieces of gold, and 
then himself carried the fish to the cook, 
142 


THE FISHERMAN AND THE GENII 


bidding her fry them as on the previous day. 

This the cook did, gutting them and plac- 
ing them in the pan. She waited until they 
were done on one side, and then turned them 
over. Immediately the wall opened and 
the same lady appeared. Without a glance 
at either the cook or the vizier, she stepped 
to the fire and touched the pan with her 
myrtle wand. “Fish, fish, do you do your 
duty?” she asked. 

The four fishes raised their heads and 
made answer, “We do our duty. If you 
pay your debts, we pay ours. If you fly, we 
are content.” 

As soon as she heard these words, the 
lady overturned the pan and disappeared 
through the wall as she had come. 

The vizier being now convinced of the 
truth of what the servant had told him, felt 
that the matter was too important to be kept 
longer from his master. He therefore has- 
143 


WHERE THE WIND BLOWS 


tened to the sultan and told him of all that 
he had seen and heard. 

The sultan wondered greatly, and wish- 
ing to see it all for himself, he sent for the 
fisherman. “Canst thou not,” he asked, 
'procure for me four more fishes such as 
those thou broughtest before?” 

The fisherman answered that he could, 
but he would require three days in which to 
get them. This he said, that they might 
think he was obliged to go a long distance 
for them. 

The sultan was willing to grant the fisher- 
man this time. The old man, however, 
went out immediately to the lake, for he 
had not fished in it that day, and throwing 
in his net drew out the fishes and carried 
them to the palace. 

The sultan was greatly delighted at re- 
ceiving them so much sooner than he had 
expected, and ordered the old man to be 
144 


THE FISHERMAN AND THE GENII 


rewarded with four hundred pieces of gold, 
as before. 

He and his vizier then retired to a closet 
where he had caused a pan, and everything 
else necessary for frying the fish, to be car- 
ried. Having shut themselves up there 
together, they placed the fishes in a pan and 
began to fry them. They no sooner turned 
them in the pan, however, than the wall of 
the closet opened and the beautiful lady 
appeared. Touching the pan with her 
myrtle wand, she asked, “Fish, fish, are you 
doing your duty? 5 ’ The fishes answered 
by raising their heads and all crying at 
once, “We do our duty. If you pay your 
debts, we pay ours. If you fly, we are con- 
tent.” The lady thereupon upset the pan 
with her wand, disappearing through the 
wall of the closet which closed behind her. 

The sultan was greatly amazed, as his 
vizier had been, and causing the fisherman 

H5 


WHERE THE WIND BLOWS 


to be once more summoned, he questioned 
him as to where he had procured the fish. 

“I caught them in a pond, lying among 
four hills, and scarce two hours 5 walk from 
the city , 55 the old man made answer. 

The sultan consulted with his vizier, but 
they could remember no such place. Being 
determined, however, to examine into the 
matter, he commanded that his whole court 
should take horse and prepare to accompany 
him to the spot. 

This was done, and following the guid- 
ance of the fisherman they soon arrived at 
the plain among the hills where the lake 
was situated. When they alighted beside 
it they found it so transparent that they 
could see down through its depths to where 
a multitude of fishes were swimming about. 
It could also be seen that these fishes were 
all such as the old man had brought to the 
castle. 


146 


THE FISHERMAN AND THE GENII 


What especially filled the sultan and his 
court with surprise was that, though they 
had often passed by the spot, none of them 
had ever seen the lake before. 

Being anxious to discover the meaning of 
all this, the sultan commanded that his 
court should encamp upon the shore, and 
that night spoke privately to his vizier. 

“I am determined,” he said, “to examine 
into this affair, for I am convinced there is 
more in it than meets the eyes. I intend 
to see if I can discover anything further, and 
for this purpose I shall start out alone to- 
night. I wish no one to know I have under- 
taken this adventure, so to-morrow when my 
court comes to attend me tell them I am 
indisposed and dismiss them. Do this 
every day until I return, and let no one 
know of my absence, even though it should 
last for some time.” 

The vizier tried to persuade him not to 
147 


WHERE THE WIND BLOWS 


venture forth in what might prove a danger- 
ous undertaking, but the sultan was re- 
solved. Arming himself with a scimitar, 
he started out alone as soon as the camp was 
quiet, making his way across the hills. 

For some time he journeyed on without 
meeting with any adventure, but at last he 
saw before him a magnificent palace of black 
marble. 

Drawing near it he saw the doors were 
standing wide open, but all was silent and 
deserted. After knocking several times 
and receiving no answer, he entered and 
went from room to room. 

At first he could find no one, but finally, 
upon approaching a great hall near the 
centre of the palace, he heard some one 
groaning and lamenting in a grievous tone. 
Having drawn aside the curtain that cov- 
ered the doorway, he beheld a young man 
of a noble and dignified appearance, seated 
148 



AFTER KNOCKING SEVERAL TIMES AND RECEIVING NO 
ANSWER, THE SULTAN ENTERED. 




































I 






t 


























THE FISHERMAN AND THE GENII 


upon a throne at the further end. This 
youth’s countenance expressed the greatest 
melancholy. 

The sultan entered and saluted him, and 
the young man returned the salutation 
gracefully, at the same time speaking in 
these words: “Sir, I see by your appear- 
ance that you are worthy of great respect, 
and I pray your pardon, if I do not rise to 
receive you. You may see for yourself that 
it is impossible for me to move from this 
throne.” 

So saying he raised the skirt of his robe, 
and the sultan saw that he was a man only 
to his girdle, below that being of black 
marble. 

The sultan was greatly concerned at this 
sight, and begged the youth to tell him how 
he came to be in this pitiable condition. 

“I am,” began the young man, “a prince; 
the son of the king of the Black Isles. My 
149 


WHERE THE WIND BLOWS 


father died while I was still very young, and 
almost immediately afterwards I married 
my cousin; a lady of pleasing appearance 
and whom I had long loved. 

“For some time we lived in great happi- 
ness, but after several years I began to per- 
ceive that I no longer pleased her. I did 
not reproach her, however, though it caused 
me great unhappiness. 

“One day, having lain down to rest, two 
of her women seated themselves, the one 
at my feet and the other at my head to fan 
me. 

“I closed my eyes, being weary, and after 
a time, thinking me asleep, the two women 
began to talk in low tones. ‘Is it not a 
pity,’ said the one at my feet, ‘to see so 
handsome a young man so deceived by his 
wife. She goes out every night now, after 
he is asleep, to learn magic, and this magic 
is of the blackest sort possible.’ 

150 


THE FISHERMAN AND THE GENII 


“ The marvel to me is , 5 responded the 
other one, ‘that he has never awakened and 
discovered that she has gone . 5 

“ That is not so strange , 5 said the first, 
‘when you know that every night she mixes 
a sleeping powder with the drink she gives 
him just before he goes to bed . 5 

“They continued to discourse for some 
time after this manner, but all the while I 
lay there with my eyes closed, and they 
knew no otherwise than that I was asleep. 
Not till they were silent did I open my eyes 
again, at the same time yawning and 
stretching with every sign of awakening. 

“That night when my wife brought me 
the drink as usual, I carried it to the win- 
dow, and while pretending to admire the 
view, secretly poured the whole of it out 
into the garden. I then returned her the 
empty cup, and she thought that I had drunk 
the draught. 

151 


WHERE THE WIND BLOWS 


“After we had gone to bed, I pretended 
almost immediately to fall into a deep sleep. 
She then arose very quietly from my side, 
and dressing herself, left the room. Be- 
fore going out, however, she stood looking 
down at me, and addressed me after this 
fashion, never imagining that I was awake 
and could hear. ‘Oh thou senseless dolt, 
how is it I can bear with thy stupidity? 
Patience, however. A little while and thou 
shalt be punished as thou deservest, and I 
shall rule the kingdom alone.’ 

“At hearing these words I was greatly 
afflicted, for I still loved her dearly. How- 
ever, I kept my eyes closed, and when she 
was gone out I arose and taking my scimitar, 
followed her unobserved. 

“She went out from the palace,” the 
young king of the Black Isles continued, 
“and so came to the garden, where she 
was met by an enormous black. Having 
152 


THE FISHERMAN AND THE GENII 


greeted each other with great friendship and 
familiarity, they began to walk backward 
and forward conversing earnestly. 

“As they spoke in low tones, I could not 
at first hear what they said, but having 
stolen nearer and hidden behind a bush I 
was able to understand them. 

“What was my horror to find that their 
talk was all of magic of the blackest and 
most evil sort, in which the stranger was in- 
structing my wife. 

“I had listened to them for some time 
when a turn in their walk brought them close 
to where I was hidden. Unable to restrain 
myself any longer, I stepped forth and 
struck the magician with my scimitar, so 
that he fell down covered with blood. I 
thought at first I had killed him, but such, 
alas ! was not the case, as I have since found 
to my sorrow. 

“I then turned to my wife with unabated 
153 


WHERE THE WIND BLOWS 


fury, but she met my eyes with such a ter- 
rible look that all my strength seemed sud- 
denly to leave me. 

“ Wretch!’ she cried, addressing me, 
What hast thou done ? Thou has dared to 
raise thy hand against one of the most 
powerful magicians in the world, and one 
whom I love and respect above all others. 
But thou shalt not go unpunished. Hence- 
forth thou shalt be half man, half marble.’ 

“She then murmured some magic words 
and clapped her hands. Immediately a 
mist came before my eyes; I seemed to 
swoon, and when I recovered my senses I 
found myself seated here and in the condi- 
tion in which you see me. 

“But this was not all. Not content with 
this vengeance, by her magic arts she trans- 
formed my city into a lake, which you may 
have seen as you came this way, and its in- 
habitants into fish of four different colors 
154 


THE FISHERMAN AND THE GENII 


according as they were Jews, Musselmans, 
Christians or Persians. 

“As I told you, the magician was not dead 
as I had hoped. He still lives and is kept 
alive by her enchantments. However, as 
I have learned from her lamentations, not 
all her magic has been able to restore to him 
the power of motion or speech. She has had 
him conveyed to some apartments in the 
further part of the palace, and thither she 
goes every day to visit him and weep over 
his condition. As soon as she leaves him 
she comes here to reproach me, and not con- 
tent with my misery she daily strips my robe 
from my shoulders and beats me with an ox- 
pizzle until I am covered with blood/’ 

Having ended his tale the young king 
began to weep and bewail his miserable con- 
dition, and the sultan could not forbear 
shedding tears with him. However, con- 
trolling his pity, the latter began before 
155 


WHERE THE WIND BLOWS 


long to question the young man as to what 
time the queen generally came hither to beat 
him. 

The king of the Black Isles replied that it 
was now almost the hour for her to appear, 
and he begged the sultan to hide himself, 
lest her anger should be awakened against 
him, too, and she should do him some evil 
with her magic arts. 

This advice the sultan thought best to fol- 
low, having first bid the young man have 
courage, as he had thought of a plan by 
which he might save him. He then hid him- 
self back of some curtains in an adjoining 
room, and had been there but a short time 
when the enchantress glided in, passing so 
close to the sultan that by stretching out his 
hand he could have touched her. 

However, she passed by and went im- 
mediately to the room where the young king 
was, and where she began to reproach him 
156 


THE FISHERMAN AND THE GENII 


bitterly for the sorrow he had brought upon 
her. 

Presently, wearying of this, she drew 
from under her robe an ox-pizzle, and 
stripping her husband’s shoulders bare she 
began to beat him in the most barbarous 
manner. 

While she was thus occupied, the sultan 
slipped from his place of concealment, and 
hurried away through the palace, looking 
for the apartments where the magician had 
been conveyed. 

He passed through many rooms one after 
another, all silent and deserted, until at last 
he reached one more magnificent than the 
rest, and there, lying upon a couch covered 
with cloth of gold was an enormous black 
whom the sultan recognized as the magician. 
He was dressed in an embroidered robe, but 
lay there quite alone and showing neither 
by sound nor motion that he was alive. 

157 


WHERE THE WIND BLOWS 


Drawing his scimitar the sultan cut off the 
magician’s head, and having stripped off the 
embroidered robe, he dragged the carcass 
into the garden and threw it down a well. 

He then dressed himself in the robe and 
lay down upon the couch in the position of 
the black, concealing his scimitar at his side. 

He had been lying there but a short time 
when the lady returned. She had scarcely 
entered the apartment, when she began to 
lament in these words: “Alas, alas! my 
lovely black! of what use to me are all my 
enchantments if they will not restore to thee 
thy speech, or cause thee even to know how 
I lament thee. What more can I do than 
I have done*?” 

As soon as she was silent the sultan, im- 
itating the voice of a black, began to speak. 
“Miserable woman,” said he. 

At the sound of these words from the sup- 
posed magician, the enchantress gave a loud 
158 


THE FISHERMAN AND THE GENII 


cry. “Speak! Speak again. Let me be 
sure that I have heard thee / 5 she cried. 

“Wretched creature, how hast thou de- 
served that I should speak to thee? Art 
not thou the cause of all my woes ? 55 asked 
the sultan. 

“My dear lord , 55 the woman made answer, 
trembling, and still thinking that it was the 
black who spoke, “how have I deserved such 
harshness? In what have I caused thy 
woes ? 55 

“By the cruelty with which thou hast 
treated thy husband , 55 the sultan made an- 
swer. “His cries disturb me night and day, 
and until he is released from his enchant- 
ment I can never be cured . 55 

“If it be so, I will hasten to release him / 5 
cried the queen, “though he has ill deserved 
such mercy . 55 

So speaking she hurried away to the hall 
where the young king was. Taking a cup 
159 


WHERE THE WIND BLOWS 


of water she muttered some magic words 
over it, and threw it upon him, saying, “Re- 
turn to the form which the Creator designed 
thee to have.” 

Immediately the young king felt himself 
wholly transformed back into flesh, as he 
had been before the queen enchanted him. 

She, however, looked upon him with a 
terrible glance, and bade him begone and 
never return upon pain of death; after 
which she hastened back to the supposed 
magician. 

“My dear master,” she cried, “I have done 
even as you commanded. Are you yet con- 
tent with me?’ 

“No,” answered the sultan, still imitating 
the voice of the black; “it is not enough. 
You must remove the enchantment from the 
city and the inhabitants of it.” 

This also the queen did, hastening away 
for that purpose. 

160 


THE FISHERMAN AND THE GENII 


The court of the sultan, who were still 
encamped upon the borders of the supposed 
lake were greatly amazed to suddenly find 
themselves in the principal square of a great 
and populous city, the inhabitants of which 
hastened to and fro intent upon their af- 
fairs. The sultan’s attendants did not rec- 
ognize in these people the fishes which they 
had seen in the clear depths of the lake, and 
which were now changed back to their 
proper shapes by the power of the queen’s 
magic. 

Meanwhile, as soon as the enchantress 
had accomplished this she returned to the 
pretended black. “The city and the in- 
habitants are restored,” she said. “Is there 
anything else thou desirest me to do?” 

“No,” answered the sultan. “Now reach 
me thy hand, and I will arise.” 

The queen joyfully did as he bade her, 
coming to the side of the couch for that pur- 
161 


WHERE THE WIND BLOWS 


pose; whereupon the sultan caught hold of 
her, and springing to his feet, before she 
could speak or turn he cut her in two with 
his scimitar, so that one half fell one way 
and one the other. 

Having executed this piece of justice, the 
sultan left the room to look for the young 
king. He found him waiting outside, and 
they rejoiced together over the young man’s 
restoration to his proper shape. 

The sultan then begged him to return 
with him to his own capital, which, he said, 
was but two hour’s journey thence, at the 
same time telling the young man who he 
was. 

“Sir,” answered the king of the Black 
Isles, after having paid the sultan the re- 
spect due to his rank. “I thank your ma- 
jesty, and will gladly return with you to 
your own country; but you will find it 
farther away than you think. On account 
162 


THE FISHERMAN AND THE GENII 


of the enchantment that was upon my city, 
you may have been able to come here in the 
time you name, but you will find it a two 
years’ journey back to your own dominions.” 

The sultan was greatly amazed to hear 
this; however, it afterward proved to be no 
more than the truth. 

He now escorted the king of the Black 
Isles through the city to where his court was, 
and having told them who the young man 
was he related to them his adventures, over 
which they could not sufficiently wonder. 

Soon after they all set out to return to the 
sultan’s dominions, accompanied by the 
king. But first the young man appointed 
those whom he wished to take charge of his 
possessions during his absence to their 
places. 

After a journey of two years they reached 
the sultan’s capital, where they were re- 
ceived with great rejoicing. The sultan 
163 


WHERE THE WIND BLOWS 


had conceived such an affection for the 
young king during their journey that he 
named him as his successor, and treated him 
in all things as his well-loved son. 

As for the old fisherman, he was sent for 
and so handsomely rewarded as to make 
him and his family wealthy for the remain- 
der of their days. 

“I remember that story,” said the old 
grandam, as the Wind ended. “I heard it 
years and years ago.” 

“Why didn’t you tell me that when I 
started?” asked the Wind somewhat gruffly. 

“I didn’t want to stop you; and then it’s 
a poor story that won’t bear telling twice. 
I liked to hear it.” 


164 


THOR AT JOTUNHEIM 







r 










T HE Wind looked out at the green 
ridge of the world far, far below 
him. 

“Have you ever heard,” he asked his 
grandmother, “of the Midgard’s serpent?” 
“No; what is that, my son?” 

“It is the serpent that people once be- 
lieved encircled the earth and held it to- 
gether. Its head and tail touched each 
other. They believed that if the circle it 
made was ever broken, the whole earth 
would fall to pieces.” 

“That is not a pleasant thought,” said the 
old woman, “but then if there were such a 
167 


WHERE THE WIND BLOWS 


serpent, and if it were big enough to reach 
around the world, it would be too big for 
any one to stir it.” 

“There was a story I heard once of how 
some one tried to lift it and made the whole 
world shake with his striving.” 

“You might tell it me,” said the old 
woman, “though I know well enough that 
there is no truth in it.” 

“It was a story,” mused the Wind, “that 
I heard — oh, ages and ages ago. The story 
of how the great god Thor went to visit at 
Jotunheim, the home of the giants. As I 
remember it, it ran after this wise :” 

From far-off Aesir where the gods feast 
came Thor, driving goats to his chariot; and 
Loki was with him. 

They stopped at the house of a country- 
man, and as they were hungry Thor bade 
168 


THOR AT JOTUNHEIM 

the man kill the goats and boil them for 
supper. 

So it was done, and all feasted together, 
Thor and Loki and the countryman and also 
the man’s son and daughter, by name 
Thialfi and Roskva. 

Thor and Loki were hungry and if the 
others ate much they ate more. When they 
had made an end of eating, Thor said, “Let 
none break a bone, but put all of them in 
the goat skins by the fire.” But Thialfi was 
greedy, and when none saw him he broke 
a thigh-bone that he might get the marrow. 
Soon after that they all went to sleep. 

Very early on the morrow Thor arose be- 
fore the others awoke; took the goat skins 
and bones and over them raised high Miol- 
nir his hammer and called them to rise. 

Then flesh and life returned to the dead 
bones, and the goats arose as before, but one 
169 


WHERE THE WIND BLOWS 


was lame of one leg; the thigh-bone that 
Thialfi had broken. 

When Thor saw that, great was his wrath. 
“Some one has deceived me,” he cried, “and 
my goat goes limping.” 

At the sound of Thor’s wrath great fear 
came upon all. Thialfi fell at his feet, 
praying him that he would spare him his 
life. Such was his terror that Thor re- 
lented; left him his life, but took him and 
Roskva as servants. 

He would tarry no longer though under 
that roof; strode out into the world with 
Loki his comrade, while Thialfi and Roskva 
followed behind him. 

On and on they journeyed, going toward 
Jotunheim, the home of the giants, for Thor 
had desired for a long time to visit them. 

At last they reached a dark forest, and as 
they travelled through it the night fell. 
Then they looked about for a place where 
170 


THOR AT JOTUNHEIM 

they could rest. There they found a house ; 
wide stood the doorway, broad as the house 
itself. “Here we will stay,” said Thor, 
“till the morning breaks.” 

So there they rested for they were weary. 
But in the night came a terrible noise as of 
an earthquake; the house shook with the 
sound. 

Great fear fell on Roskva and Thialfi, 
but Thor bade them go with Loki into a 
smaller chamber that he saw beyond. He 
meanwhile guarded the entrance with his 
hammer Miolnir. Fear came not near him. 

In the dawning he looked forth and there 
in the forest lay a great giant asleep. The 
roar and din of the night had been the sound 
of his snoring. 

While Asa-Thor stood leaning on his 
hammer and looking, the giant awoke. 
“What is thy name 1 ?” shouted Thor to him. 

“I am called Skymir,” the giant made 
171 


WHERE THE WIND BLOWS 


answer. “And thou, I know well, art Asa- 
Thor. But what hast thou done with my 
glove?” 

He stooped to pick up the house where 
the companions had rested. Then Thor 
looked and saw that the house was the 
giant’s glove; the inner chamber where they 
had retreated was the thumb. 

At that Thor called to his companions to 
come forth. Loud laughed the giant when 
he saw them, till the forest shook. “Come 
small ones,” cried he, “we will feast to- 
gether and be comrades.” Then the giant 
set forth his provisions, and Thor also laid 
out food from his bag. 

When they had made an end of their eat- 
ing the giant said, “Let us put our provi- 
sions in my bag together.” So they put all 
together, and the giant fastened his bag and 
swung it over his shoulder. 

All that day they travelled together, and 
172 


THOR AT JOTUNHEIM 

still at night had not reached the end of the 
forest. 

Then the giant Skymir flung down his 
bag on the ground. Said he, “Do you eat, 
but I am heavy with sleep and want noth- 
ing.” So saying, he stretched himself out 
across the ground and soon was snoring. 

Thor strove to open the bag, but could 
not unloose the cord that held it; could not 
open Skymir’s provision bag. 

In a rage he strode to the sleeping giant, 
raised his hammer and smote Skymir upon 
the forehead. Skymir opened his eyes; 
sleepily brushed his forehead. “Was that 
a leaf fell upon me?” asked the giant. 

Without a word Thor returned to his 
comrades. Hungry were they obliged to 
go to their rest that night. But in Thor’s 
breast wrath burned hotter and hotter. 

Deep in the night when the giant was 
again sleeping, Thor arose and went to him; 
173 


WHERE THE WIND BLOWS 


raised his hammer Miolnir and smote the 
giant a mighty blow; such a blow the head 
of the hammer was buried in Skymir’s head. 

Then the giant awoke. “Is this an oak 
tree above me?” he asked. “Methought an 
acorn fell upon my head and woke me.” 

No answer made Thor, but went back to 
his companions who were still sleeping. 

In the morning he rose once more; Sky- 
mir still slept, snoring like thunder. Then 
Thor smote him such a blow on the temple 
as must surely kill him. The hammer sank 
in the giant’s head up to the haft. Skymir 
roused and sprang to his feet; raised his 
hand to his temple. “There must be birds 
in the tree overhead, for a feather just now 
fell upon me.” 

Then he looked about and it was morn- 
ing. “Give me my bag,” he said, “and do 
you go your way and I mine, for here we 
174 


THOR AT JOTUNHEIM 


separate. My path lieth yonder to the 
mountains, and yours toward Jotunheim. 
But first, Asa-Thor, advice I would give 
thee. Boast not in Jotunheim of thy great 
prowess; make not much of thyself, for the 
Jo tuns like not boasting.” 

Then Skymir left them and strode away 
toward the mountains, but Thor and his 
comrades travelled on in the direction they 
would go. 

At last they reached the edge of the for- 
est. There before them was a great city, 
and a gate so lofty that to see its top they 
must look up toward heaven. 

Thor sought to open it, but with all his 
might he could not. To enter, they were 
compelled to creep between the bars. 

Then they went on through the city until 
they came to a mighty hall. On either side 
of it sat the giants feasting. Through their 
175 


WHERE THE WIND BLOWS 


midst strode Thor and his comrades till they 
came to where the king sat, and gave him 
greeting. 

Contemptuously the king looked upon 
them, and thus he spoke: “No need of 
asking who thou art, Asa-Thor. But thou 
art less than I had thought to see thee. No 
doubt, however, thy valor is greater than 
thy stature. But now what special exploits 
can ye show us? For none may abide here 
with us, unless in some art or power he ex- 
celleth.” Thus spoke the king. 

Then Loki answered boldly, “In eating 
lieth my great strength. Bring him among 
you who can eat the most, and set a trial 
between us.” 

So the king summoned his man Logi; set 
a great trough filled with meat between him 
and Loki. “Now, let us see,” he cried, “thy 
boasted power!” Scornfully spake he. 

Then Loki and Logi both began eating. 
176 


THOR AT JOTUNHEIM 


Loki ate fast; left not a shred of meat on 
the bones, and he and Logi met in the mid- 
dle, but Logi had eaten not the flesh only, 
but the bones and the trough with it. 

Then said the king Utgard-Loki, “Bet- 
ter than that must they eat who feast with 
the Jotuns.” Then he turned to Thialfi, 
“Where lies thy special skill 1 ?” he asked 
him. 

“I,” answered Thialfi, “am a runner. 
Swiftest of foot am I said to be of any on 
earth.” 

Then Utgard-Loki called his man Hugi 
to run with Thialfi. 

Smooth lay the race course, and level and 
even. From the goal the two runners 
started together. Thialfi ran swiftly, but 
scarce had he reached the turning point 
when Hugi was back at the goal. 

Then again they ran. Thialfi strained 
forward and sped swift as a bird’s flight. 
177 


WHERE THE WIND BLOWS 


But when he was still a good bow shot from 
the goal, Hugi had touched it. 

“Thou art swift of foot, Thialfi,” said 
Utgard-Loki, “but swifter still must thou be 
to out run Hugi.” 

Then for the third time the runners 
started. So swiftly ran Thialfi that his feet 
scarce seemed to touch the ground; swift 
as the wind he went, but when he was scarce 
at the middle Hugi had sped to the goal. 
Loud laughed Utgard-Loki. “Mighty 
Thor unless thou canst better thy comrades, 
small is the honor thou wilt win at Jotun- 
heim.” 

Thor scowled black as thunder. “Bring 
forth your drinking horns,” he cried, “and I 
will show you how I can drink.” 

Then Utgard-Loki summoned before 
them his cupbearer. In his hands he 
brought a drinking-horn. “Drink,” said 
the king. “Many among us empty the horn 
178 


THOR AT JOTUNHEIM 


at one draught; some twice must lift it; the 
least among us at three draughts can drain 
it. Doubtless, Thor, thou canst empty it 
easily.” 

Thor took the horn in his two hands. 
Not wide it seemed, but it was long. Thor 
was thirsty, so he set his lips to it and drank 
deeply till he could drink no more. Then 
he looked in it. He could not see that the 
drink was at all lowered. 

Once again he raised the horn to his lips; 
drank and drank, but with all his drinking 
scarcely he needed to tilt the horn. Then 
he paused to take breath. 

Cried Utgard-Loki, “Thou hast left more 
than a share for the third draught. It must 
be deepest of all if thou wouldst empty the 
horn.” 

No word answered Thor, but lifting the 
horn he drank till his head seemed bursting. 

When he could drink no more he looked 
179 


WHERE THE WIND BLOWS 


in it. Little indeed was it lowered, though 
now one could carry it without spilling. 

The king mocked him, “Thy thirst is 
quenched too easily, Thor. 5 ’ 

Then Thor made answer, “Scarce would 
they in Aesir call such draughts little. But 
if I have failed in this give me some task 
to do that will show my strength.” 

“Some men,” said the king, “think it but 
play to lift my old cat. I would not have 
asked thee to do such a small thing had I 
not seen thy strength was less than I thought 
it.” 

Then forth from a dark corner crawled 
the great cat, a lean beast and lanky. 

Thor bent and seized it round the body; 
strove to lift it, straining his muscles; strove 
till the sweat poured down from his shoul- 
ders. 

But the great beast curved its back, 
stretching itself out longer and longer. 
180 



WITH ALL HIS STRENGTH, THOR COULD BUT LIFT ONE OF THE 
GREAT CAT’S FEET FROM THE GROUND. 


























. 













































* 














. 























































































































* • • ' i4 











- 


THOR AT JOTUNHEIM 


With all his striving, Thor could but lift 
one of its feet from the ground. 

Then in his wrath Thor threw the cat 
from him. “Now I am angry,” he cried. 
“Little ye think of me, but which among 
you dares to strive with me now I am an- 
gry?” 

Pale was the king, and strangely he 
looked at Thor. Pale were all the Jotuns. 

“Before we strive with thee see if thy 
strength is enough to throw my old foster 
mother, Elli. Many brave men has she 
stretched on the ground.” 

Into the king’s hall came the old Elli. 
Such an old woman, so bent and twisted, it 
seemed a pity for Thor to throw her. 

Gently he seized her, but her lean arms 
wrapped round him, cruel and crushing. 
Then Thor strove with her; strove till his 
joints cracked; strove with her, raging; his 
breath came whistling. He felt himself 
181 


WHERE THE WIND BLOWS 

being bent backward, till at last he was 
forced to yield; down on one knee he sank 
before her. 

The king laughed aloud. “Three times 
hast thou failed, striving with us in games. 
Now thou shalt try no more. Come; we 
will feast.” 

Then a great feast was spread. All ate 
and drank. Loud and louder grew the 
mirth. Only Thor was silent, for his heart 
was heavy with shame. 

On the morrow again there was feasting, 
that the guests might not depart hungry. 
Then the king went with them to the great 
gate and unlocked it for them. Over the 
threshold stepped Thor and his companions. 
Then said Thor, “Little of honor have I 
gained here in Jotunheim, and my heart is 
sore vexed because in your eyes I have 
seemed but a weakling.” 

182 


THOR AT JOTUNHEIM 


Then the king made answer, “This know, 
Asa-Thor: had I known ere thou entered 
how mighty thou wast, never shouldst thou 
have crossed the threshold of Jotunheim; 
with mighty spells would I have protected 
it. Since thy coming thou hast caused our 
bones to quake in us. Never again shalt 
thou set foot in our halls. 

“Now I will tell thee, the giant who 
called himself Skymir was I myself, who 
came out to meet thee. When I fastened 
the bag of provisions, it was with steel and 
not cord that I tied it; though this thou 
knewest not, because of my magic. Didst 
thou see the great rock in my hall, with 
three deep holes in it? Those were the 
marks left by thy hammer. By my spells 
I caused thee to think ’twas my head thou 
struck, when in truth ’twas upon that rock 
that thy blows fell. 

183 


WHERE THE WIND BLOWS 


“He who ate with Loki and whom we 
called Logi was fire, which all things de- 
vours. 

“Thialfi was swift, but my thoughts out- 
ran him; my thoughts named Hugi. 

“When my drinking-horn thou strovest to 
drain, thou sawest not that its end was in 
the ocean. Such mighty drinking never we 
saw. The whole sea was lowered, so that 
men wondered and called it an ebb. 

“That beast I called a cat was the Mid^ 
gard’s serpent that circles the world and 
holds it together. When we saw thee lift 
it as high as heaven, we trembled with fear. 
Scarce was the serpent able to keep his tail 
and one foot touching. 

“My foster-mother, the old hag called 
Elli with whom thou wrestled, was old age. 
None are so mighty but that they must fall 
before her. 

“Farewell, Thor. Never again shalt 
184 


THOR AT JOTUNHEIM 

thou enter Jotunheim, for with our spells 
and magic we will protect it.” 

Then Thor knew how the Jo tuns had 
tricked him. Filled with wrath he turned 
and swung high his hammer, but the king 
was gone. Gone too, were the gates and 
the great city. All around was but a bleak 
and barren plain. 

Above resounded mighty laughter that 
echoed about him, and great voices that died 
in the distance. “Never again, Asa-Thor, 
shalt thou see us. Never again shalt thou 
set foot in Jotunheim.” 


185 







« 


GULEESH NA GUSS DHU 


f 



















► 






T HEY are strange creatures, those 
people living on the green earth be- 
low there,” said the Wind. “They 
are all made of the same flesh and blood; 
the sun shines upon them and I blow alike 
upon them all, but all their thoughts seem 
to be of rich and poor and great and small.” 

“Can’t you blow some of those notions 
out of them?” asked the grandmother. 

“It would take more breath than I have 
to do that, granny. Now and then,” the 
Wind went on, “one hears of a king who 
189 


WHERE THE WIND BLOWS 

marries a beggar, or the other way about; 
but even then it is made a great wonder- 
ment of. Now there was Guleesh na Guss 
Dhu and the princess of France.” 

“And what was it about them?” and the 
grandmother drew her chair nearer. 

“Well, I will tell you,” said the Wind. 

There was once a brave Irish lad named 
Guleesh, who lived in county Mayo. 

One evening Guleesh had been to a wake, 
and it was the last day of October. 

It was a long way from the wake back 
to Guleesh’ s home. He walked and walked 
and after awhile his legs began to weary 
under him, and he stopped to rest a bit. 

It was a lonely place where he stopped 
and nothing to be heard but the cronawn 
of the insects and the piping of the frogs 
from over beyond in the bog. The moon 
190 


GULEESH NA GUSS DHU 


was shining clear, but presently it was as 
though a breath came over it and everything 
grew still. 

Then in the silence came a sound of feet 
running and people talking and laughing 
together. 

“What’s that?” thinks Guleesh to him- 
self, pricking up his ears. 

The sound came nearer and nearer, but 
not a thing could the lad see, and it went 
by him like a whirl of wind. 

Tjie voices went on and into the rath be- 
yond, and there he heard a shouting and 
hullabaloo, and laughing. 

“Whatever it is, it’s myself would like 
to be in with the fun,” said Guleesh, and 
he followed on to the rath. 

When he reached there, he heard the 
voices all about him shouting, “My horse 
and my bridle and saddle.” 

191 


WHERE THE WIND BLOWS 


“That’s a good word,” said Guleesh, and 
he too shouted, “My horse and my saddle 
and bridle.” 

The words were only just out of his 
mouth, when there before him stood a fine 
horse with a saddle of silver and a bridle of 
bright gold. 

Guleesh leaped upon its back, and he 
had scarce seated himself when he saw that 
the whole rath was full of horses with little 
men riding about on them. 

Then Guleesh knew that he had happened 
on a meeting of sheehogues. 

Said the little man nearest him, “Are you 
riding with us to-night, Guleesh?” 

“I am for sure,” said Guleesh. 

“Then stick tight, for it’s fast we’ll be 
going,” and with that he gave the word and 
away they all rode, and Guleesh in the 
midst of them. 

On and on they went, so fast that the 
192 


GULEESH NA GUSS DHU 


wind that was blowing behind them seemed 
to be coming from in front. 

After a while they came to the edge of the 
sea, and there was nothing to be seen but 
the moonlight on the waters. Then every 
one of them cried, “Hie over cap! Hie over 
cap ! 55 And Guleesh shouted too with the 
best of them, so as not to be out of it. 

At that the horses rose in the air, and be- 
fore the lad could blink twice they were over 
the water and had lighted on dry land upon 
the other side. 

Then the sheehogue that was nearest to 
him asked, “And do you know where we 
are now, Guleesh ? 55 

“Never a bit , 55 said Guleesh, “any more 
than I know where the wind blows . 55 

“Then I will tell you. We are in France, 
and what we have come for is to carry away 
the king’s daughter. Her father means to 
marry her to-night to the son of another 
193 


WHERE THE WIND BLOWS 


king; but before that happens we’ll have her 
away with us, and it’s behind you on your 
horse that she shall ride.” 

“If it’s for that you have brought me, you 
might have left me behind,” said the lad, 
“and carried her yourself.” 

“No, Guleesh, that would never have 
done. For such riding as we have still to 
do she must have flesh and blood to hold 
to.” 

Then the sheehogue spoke another word, 
though what it was the lad could not tell, 
and away they flew again through the air. 

When they alighted, Guleesh began to 
wink and blink, for they were in a great 
hall where there were so many lights that it 
dazzled his eyes after the moonlight out- 
side. 

At the end of the hall were musicians 
making music, and girls and fine lads 
dressed in satins and gold and jewels and 
194 


GULEESH NA GUSS DHU 


velvet. Upon a throne sat the king of 
France himself, and about him was a great 
crowd of gentlemen and nobles. 

No one paid any attention to the shee- 
hogues or Guleesh, for indeed not a soul 
saw them. The word the little man had 
spoken had made them all invisible. 

Presently the sheehogue jogged Guleesh. 
“There’s the princess,” he said. 

The lad looked, and just then the dancers 
parted and he saw the loveliest woman that 
he thought had ever lived on the ridge of 
the world. Her skin was like lilies and 
roses; her eyes as blue as the sky, and her 
hair hung down like great ropes of gold. 
She was dressed from head to foot in silk 
that was like moonlight on water, and there 
were rings on her lily-white hands. But 
for all her beauty she was very sad, and 
looked as though she had been weeping. 

Presently the prince who was to marry 
195 


WHERE THE WIND BLOWS 


her came up to her, and then Guleesh saw 
plainly enough that it was no love she had 
for him, and that her father was forcing this 
marriage upon her. A cruel shame it 
seemed, and she so young and beautiful. 

Well, the feasting and dancing went on, 
and afterwhile it came time for the priests 
to marry them. 

The altar was there in the hall, and the 
prince took the hand of the princess to lead 
her to it. Then she grew as white as death, 
but she had to go with him. 

She had almost reached the altar, walk- 
ing slow and faint-like, when one of the 
sheehogues stuck out his foot before her, so 
that she tripped over it. 

She fell to the ground, and in that mo- 
ment she vanished out of the midst of them. 

Then there was a shrieking and a seeking 
and a wailing. They looked for the lady 
high and low; but find her they could not, 
196 


GULEESH NA GUSS DHU 


for the sheehogues had set her on the horse, 
back of Guleesh, and they were away with 
her over the sea and back to green Ireland. 

Fast as they flew, though, Guleesh had 
time on the way to think what a shame it 
was for such a lovely creature as that to be 
given to one of the ugly little men. 

On they went, as if in a race, till the earth 
spun away under them. At last they were 
right over Guleesh’ s house. Then he 
turned and caught the lady in his arms. “I 
call and cross you to myself in the name 
of God,” cried he. 

At that a howl went up from all the little 
men. At the same moment the horse went 
away from under the lad, and there he was 
on the ground, and what he had been rid- 
ing on was nothing but the beam of a 
plough, for no magic can stand the Holy 
Name. 

By the same token the blessed words 
197 


WHERE THE WIND BLOWS 

broke the charm of the sheehogues, too. It 
changed back the horses they had been rid- 
ing into what they really were, just sticks 
and dried grasses or maybe an old broom. 

The little men began howling and stamp- 
ing about Guleesh. “Oh Guleesh, you 
clown! You strone-sha! You thief of 
the world! May no good come to you for 
this trick you have put upon us. Had we 
known an hour ago what we know now, you 
might have stayed in France for all of us!” 

But they got no use out of raging and 
stamping. Guleesh had consecrated the 
girl to himself, and they could not take her 
away from him. 

“Small good shall he have of her, 
though,” cried the sheehogue who had first 
spoken to the lad. Then coming nearer he 
slapped the girl upon the cheek. “Dumb 
she is, and dumb she shall remain,” he said. 
198 



AS THE HORSE WENT FROM UNDER HIM, GULEESH FOUND WHAT HE 
HAD BEEN RIDING ON WAS NOTHING BUT A PLOUGH-BEAM. 

















































V 













. 






. 

■ 




























. 













GULEESH NA GUSS DHU 

“You’ll remember us, Guleesh na Guss 
Dhu.” 

With that all the little men were gone 
out of sight in a moment, and Guleesh was 
alone in front of his house with the lady. 

Very white the lady stood and very still, 
and she looked at him strangely. 

“She’s frightened, poor girl,” thought 
Guleesh to himself ; “and small blame to her 
after the ride she’s been taking.” So he 
took her hand and talked to her gently. 
Still she said nothing, but the tears rose to 
her eyes and ran slow down her cheeks. 

“Sure the evil things could never have 
put their spell on such a lovely creature as 
yourself, could they?” he cried. “It was 
but joking they were. Tell me that they 
haven’t struck you dumb.” 

At that the lady raised her soft white 
hand and laid the fingers upon her lips. 

199 


WHERE THE WIND BLOWS 


Then Guleesh knew that the sheehogue 
had of truth done as he said, and that the 
lady was dumb; the tears ran down his 
cheeks, too, for the pity of it. 

However, he could not keep her standing 
there outside his door in the chill of the 
early mist, so he took her hand again and 
led her away to the priest’s house. There 
he knocked at the door. 

Presently down came the priest and 
opened it. Then who so surprised as he to 
see Guleesh standing there at that time of 
the morning, and with him a lady as lovely 
as the moon, and dressed all in silks and 
jewels. 

“What do you want here 1 ?” he says; “and 
who is this that ye have brought here with 
you?” For he knew she was not from the 
country round. 

Guleesh told the priest everything that 
had happened that night, from the time he 
200 


m * 


GULEESH NA GUSS DHU 


heard the voices sweeping past him toward 
the rath to the moment when he found him- 
self alone with the lady and she dumb. 
The priest wondered more and more at the 
tale. 

“And now I’m asking you,” said the lad, 
“will you take her in and shelter her for 
the love of heaven? For my house is no 
place for a real princess to be staying, and 
her father the king of all France.” 

That the priest was willing to do, so he 
took the lady in and kept her there. He 
also gave her some clothes that his niece had 
left in the house that people might wonder 
at her the less. Wonder they did, however, 
because of her marvellous beauty. 

So the princess lived in the priest’s house 
and every few days Guleesh went there to 
see her. The more he saw her the better 
she pleased him, until his heart was filled 
with love for her. He and the priest could 
201 


■ r 


WHERE THE WIND BLOWS 


see that she liked him, too, though she could 
not speak. The lad was sad for pity of her 
being dumb. 

Now one evening after Guleesh had been 
to see the princess, he wandered over toward 
the rath instead of going home, for the sor- 
row was on him. 

It was toward the end of October, and all 
of a sudden he remembered that it was on 
this very night a year ago that he had heard 
the sheehogues coming at this very spot. 

Then he stood still and listened, and sure 
enough he seemed to hear from far away the 
sound of many footsteps, and of voices 
shouting and laughing. 

Nearer and nearer they came; louder and 
louder. It was the little men for sure. 
They whirled by him and on into the rath, 
and Guleesh was not slow to follow them. 

Then he could hear them shouting all 
202 


GULEESH NA GUSS DHU 


about him, “My horse and my saddle and 
bridle . 55 

Guleesh shouted with the rest, “My horse 
and my saddle and bridle . 55 

At that there was a silence and then all 
the little men began to cry at once, “It is 
Guleesh, it is Guleesh that put the trick on 
us. Never think to ride with us again, Gu- 
leesh . 55 Still others shouted, “How is the 
dumb woman? It’s small good you 5 ll be 
getting of her, and she with never a word to 
speak to you . 55 The air all round seemed 
full of voices. Then he heard one further 
off cry, “What a stupid clown he is, never 
to have thought of brewing her a drink from 
the herb near his door ; then she would speak 
fast enough . 55 

With that every one about him began to 
shout, “Foolish clown! Foolish clown ! 55 
Suddenly the cry changed to, “Cap over and 
203 


WHERE THE WIND BLOWS 


away, 5 ’ and on the instant every one of the 
little men was gone like a flash. 

It was not long that Guleesh lingered 
there after that, for he had heard what he 
would have given five fingers to have known 
before. 

Home he ran as fast as he could, and be- 
gan hunting about in the grass around his 
house, for it was full moon, and almost as 
bright as day. 

He had not been looking long when in 
a warm corner near the chimney he found 
an herb that was not like any he had ever 
seen in his life before. It had seven 
branches and on each branch seven leaves, 
and when he broke it off, a thick white 
juice oozed out that tasted like honey and 
milk. Then Guleesh made sure that this 
was the plant the sheehogue had spoken of. 

He carried it into the house and put it 
in a pot with water to cover it, and boiled 
204 


GULEESH NA GUSS DHU 


it over the fire till all the juice was boiled 
out of it. 

Then he put the drink in a pitcher and 
carried it to the priest’s house, for by now 
it was morning. 

First, however, he took a good drink from 
the pitcher to make sure there was no harm 
in the drink, and all it did was to make him 
feel as light and as gay as a bird. 

When Guleesh reached the priest’s house 
he could see that the princess wondered to 
see him bringing in a pitcher so careful-like. 

Then he set it down on the table, and told 
her and the priest all he had heard in the 
rath. When he had made an end of his 
story, he asked the princess whether she was 
willing to try the drink and see whether it 
would bring back the speech to her like the 
little man had said. 

For answer, the princess took up the 
pitcher and began to drink. She drank and 
205 


WHERE THE WIND BLOWS 

drank, and when she set it down it was al- 
most empty. 

Soon after she made signs that she was 
sleepy, so she lay down and sank into a deep 
sleep. For two whole days she slept there, 
while Guleesh and the priest sat watching, 
afraid to waken her, for she lay there smil- 
ing and breathing smooth and even. But 
their hearts were anxious within them. 

At the end of two days her eyes opened 
and she sat up and looked about her. 

With that, all of a tremble, the priest 
says to her, “And have you slept well ? 55 

And she answered him in the sweetest 
voice in the world, “I have that, and now 
I feel rested as I never was in my life be- 
fore . 55 By that they knew that her speech 
was restored, and they were so joyful there 
never was anything like it. 

It was not long till Guleesh told her how 
dearly he loved her, and asked her could she 
206 


GULEESH NA GUSS DHU 


love him. Then says she, “It’s yourself 
I’ve been loving for a long time back, Gu- 
leesh; though it was no word I could an- 
swer to all you said to me. But if it’s not 
you I wed, then it’ll be nobody.” 

So the priest married them, though his 
heart shook in him as he thought what the 
King of France would be feeling if he knew 
what was happening in Erin that day. 

But it’s not always that Guleesh and the 
princess were living in green Erin. 

For a while after they were married they 
were as happy as the day was long, but after 
a bit the lady began to go heavy and sad. 
It was some time before Guleesh could get 
her to tell him what it was that was troub- 
ling her. 

At last, however, with him coaxing her 
every day, she let him know that it was long- 
ing she was to see her father and her own 
land once more, until sometimes it seemed 
207 


/ 

WHERE THE WIND BLOWS 

the heart would fly out of her breast with 
wishing. 

Well, Guleesh had no money to buy their 
journey such a long way as that, but when 
she found he was willing to go she made him 
take the rings she had brought with her from 
over the sea and sell them for money. 
They brought more gold than Guleesh had 
ever seen in his life before. 

With that they took passage in a ship and 
sailed away and away until at last they 
reached the coast of France. They did not 
stop there either, but went on to the very 
palace of the king. 

The king could scarcely believe it when 
he saw his dear daughter again, for he 
thought she would have been dead this long 
while since. 

He kissed her many times, and was so 
glad to have her once more that he could not 
208 


GULEESH NA GUSS DHU 


but forgive her, and there was great joy in 
all the land. 

So it was well and not ill with her and 
Guleesh all the days of their life, and after 
the old king’s death they ruled over all 
France in his place. And that’s how a poor 
Irish lad came to be the husband of a great 
queen. 

“And why shouldn’t he have been,” said 
the old grandmother, “for as far as I can 
see he was a brave lad and an honest one, 
too.” 

“Yes, that is true, granny,” said the 
Wind, “but they don’t always seem to think 
that counts for enough down there on the 
green earth.” 


209 



VASILISSA THE FAIR 




T HE old grandmother stood at the 
window and she looked East and 
she looked West. 

“I wish the Wind would be coming 
home,” she said. “It’s time for me to be 
putting out my mists, and as like as not if 
I do it now he’ll tear them all to pieces when 
he comes through them; he’s just that 
rough.” 

She waited a while longer, tapping on 
the window frame with her lean old fingers 
that looked as hard and smooth as old brown 
ivory. 


213 


WHERE THE WIND BLOWS 


“Well, I can’t wait any longer,” said she 
at last to herself; so she put out her mists 
and they settled softly down and down over 
the little fields and valleys below. Only 
the tops of the highest mountains showed 
above them. Then she went up in her star 
tower to do some polishing. 

She hadn’t been there long when she heard 
the Wind come in banging the door behind 
him. 

Down she hurried. “You didn’t tear 
my mists on your way home, did you?” she 
asked him. 

“Why as to that, grandmother, I never 
thought about them one way or the other.” 

The granny went to the window and 
looked out, and there, sure enough, the mists 
were torn, so that long streaks of sunlight 
shone through them upon the fields below. 

The old woman was provoked. “It’s 
214 


VASILISSA THE FAIR 


just as I thought,” she cried. “Careless you 
were and careless you’ll be to the end of the 
chapter, but you might have had some 
thought for all the trouble you would bring 
upon me.” 

“There, there, granny,” said the Wind 
coaxingly. “If I was careless it was because 
I was thinking of the story I was bringing 
home to you. The story of Vasilissa the 
Fair. Shall I tell it to you?” 

Even that didn’t put the old woman in a 
good humor, but she settled herself down 
in the cushioned chair to listen, and the 
Wind began his tale. 

There was once a rich merchant who had a 
wife and one child; a daughter who because 
of her beauty was named Vasilissa the Fair. 

For some years they all lived very 
happily and then the wife fell ill. Feel- 
215 


WHERE THE WIND BLOWS 


ing that death was near, she called Vasilissa 
to her, and took from under the bedclothes 
a little Kdkla, or doll. 

“My child,” she said, “I am about to 
leave you, but do not fear; I shall still keep 
watch over you. Moreover, I give you this 
little Kdkla. Keep it safe, but never let 
any one see it. If you are ever in trouble 
take it to your room. There feed it, and 
after it has eaten it will always tell you 
what you should do.” Then the mother 
gave her daughter the doll, and Vasilissa 
hid it away in her dress. 

Soon after the mother died. 

The merchant mourned for his wife for 
some time; then he began to look about 
him; thought of marrying again. 

He chose at last a widow with two 
daughters, and after he married her he 
brought them all home to live. 

The two girls were very envious of Vasil- 
216 


VASILISSA THE FAIR 


issa; the stepmother hated her, too, because 
she was as beautiful as the dear day, and 
her own daughters were ugly as sin itself. 

They did all they could to spite Vasil- 
issa, and make her unhappy. They scolded 
her continually and set her tasks that were 
too heavy for her, so that she might become 
thin and her hands grow hardened by work. 

But in spite of all she had to do the girl 
became prettier and plumper every day, 
while her stepsisters grew yellow with their 
own hatred. 

The reason Vasilissa did not grow thin 
was because of her Kdkla. However little 
she had to eat herself she always saved the 
daintiest morsel in her pocket for her doll. 
Then she would steal away and set it before 
her Kdkla, saying, 

“Kukla, eat I pray; 

Great my need to-day. 


217 


WHERE THE WIND BLOWS 


As I give you food to break, 

Help me for my mothers sake.” 

Then after the Ktfkla had eaten, it would 
comfort her and give her good advice. 
“Do not trouble yourself/’ it would say. 
“I will do all your work for you.” Then 
everything would be done in a moment. 
Vasilissa never had need to raise a finger, 
but the doll took pains all the while that 
no one should know but what the girl did 
the work herself. 

Not far from the merchant’s house was a 
deep forest, and in this forest there lived a 
Baba Yaga; a very fierce and terrible witch. 

The stepmother was always finding some 
reason for sending Vasilissa into the forest, 
hoping the Baba Yaga would catch her and 
eat her. 

One time the woman set the three girls 
tasks to do. The eldest girl was to make 
lace; the second was to knit and Vasilissa 
218 


VASILISSA THE FAIR 


herself was to weave. She told them how 
much they would be obliged to do and then 
she went away. First, however, she called 
her eldest daughter aside and told her she 
was to do this and the other and they might 
be able to rid themselves of Vasilissa. 

After the mother had gone, the girls 
worked hard all day, but night came and 
they had not yet finished their tasks. They 
were obliged to light a candle. 

Presently the oldest daughter pretended 
that the candle needed trimming. She 
rose as if to do this, but instead of trim- 
ming it, she put it out; for that is what her 
mother had told her to do. 

“There!” she said. “The candle is out 
and we have no light to finish our work. 
One of us must go to the Baba Yagas hut 
and beg her for a light.” 

“I will not go,” said the second girl, “for 
my knitting needles give me enough light.” 
219 


WHERE THE WIND BLOWS 


“And my pins make a light for me / 5 said 
the eldest. Then they both cried together, 
“Vasilissa, you must go . 55 

Vasilissa dared not refuse but she was 
terribly frightened. She said she would go, 
but before she set out she made some excuse 
for going to her room. There she took her 
Kdkla from her pocket and set before it 
some food that she had managed to save 
from supper. 

“Kukla, eat I pray,” 

She cried with tears: 

“Great my need to-day. 

If I give you food to break, 

Help me for my mother’s sake.” 

The little doll began to eat. As it ate 
its eyes glowed brighter and brighter till 
they shone like candles. They lighted the 
room. 


220 


VASILISSA THE FAIR 

“Vasilissa the Fair, what is your grief*?” 
it asked. “Why do you weep?” 

Then Vasilissa told the doll her trouble; 
told it how her sisters would oblige her to 
go into the forest to get a light and that she 
feared the Baba Yaga would eat her. 

“Do not be afraid, Vasilissa,” answered 
the Kukla. “Take me with you. Do all 
the Baba Yaga tells you and ask no ques- 
tions and no harm shall come to you.” 

Vasilissa was comforted. She put the 
doll back in her pocket and then she started 
out into the dark forest in search of the Baba 
Yaga’s hut. 

She went on and on; journeyed a long 
distance before she found it. 

At last she reached it, however, and 
knocked, but no one was at home. 

Presently she heard a terrible noise and 
there came the Baba Yaga. She rode along 
in a mortar, urging it forward with a pestle 
221 


WHERE THE WIND BLOWS 


and sweeping away the traces behind her 
with a broom. Vasilissa trembled at the 
sight of her. 

The old hag began to snuff about. 
“Phu! Phu!” she cried, “I smell Russian 
blood.” 

“It is I, grandmother,” said Vasilissa step- 
ping forward. “My sisters have sent me 
to you to beg a light for their candle.” 

“Is that true 9” asked the Baba Yaga. 
“A light you shall have, but seek work or 
shun work you must stay here for awhile 
and do my bidding or else I will eat you.” 

Vasilissa was afraid to say no. The 
Baba Yaga then cried: 

“Open gates and door stand wide 
Let your mistress pass inside.” 

At that gates and doors flew open. The 
old hag rushed through whistling in her 
throat and Vasilissa followed her. 


222 


VASILISSA THE FAIR 


The Baba Yaga threw herself down on a 
bench and stretched herself out. Her hair 
stood up stiff as nails. “I am hungry,” she 
said. “Fetch me what there is in the oven.” 

Vasilissa brought it all out and set it be- 
fore her; enough for twelve men. 

“Now fetch me something to drink from 
the cellar.” 

Vasilissa did that, too. Brought kvass 
and beer and mead. The Baba Yaga ate 
and drank everything; left nothing for the 
girl but some bones and crusts. 

Vasilissa ate what was left, but she man- 
aged to hide away the best crust for her doll. 

After a while the Baba Yaga grew sleepy. 
She began to yawn. “To-morrow while I 
am away you must do a little work for me,” 
she said. “You must sweep the floor and 
clean the yard and bleach my linen and then 
take four quarters of wheat from the bin 
and separate it from the seeds that are 
223 


WHERE THE WIND BLOWS 


mixed with it. If this is not all done by the 
time I come home, I will eat you.” 

Vasilissa began to weep. It was more 
than ten hands could do. The Baba Yaga, 
however, went to sleep and snored; snored 
until the rafters shook. 

Vasilissa took out her Ktikla and set it 
on the table placing the crust before it. 

“Kukla, eat I pray; 

Great my need to-day. 

As I give you food to break 
Help me for my mother’s sake.” 

The doll opened its eyes and began to 
eat. When it had finished, it said, “Well, 
Vasilissa the Fair, how goes it with you?” 

“Badly, indeed,” answered the girl, and 
she told her doll of the tasks that the old 
hag had set her to do. 

“Do not trouble your head about that,” 
said the doll. “Say your prayers and sleep 
224 


VASILISSA THE FAIR 


in peace. I will see that all is done that 
she requires.” 

,V asilissa put the doll back in her pocket 
and went to sleep; slept the whole night 
through. 

The next morning the Baba Yaga 
mounted her mortar and rode away. The 
trees groaned around her, she swept by them 
so fast. 

Vasilissa, left alone, looked about her. 
There was so much to do she did not know 
where to begin first. She washed her face 
and said her prayers, and when she was 
ready to set to work, she found everything 
was done that the Baba Yaga had required. 
There was no need for her to lift a finger. 
Her Kukla had done it all for her. 

Toward nightfall the Baba Yaga came 
home. She made such a terrible noise that 
Vasilissa trembled. In she swept. 

225 


WHERE THE WIND BLOWS 


“Well, have you done everything as I 
told you?” she asked. She began to look 
about her. When she saw that everything 
was done she was terribly angry, but there 
was nothing to complain about. 

After she had examined the wheat, she 
cried, “The wheat is here and waiting, but 
where are the hands to grind it?” Im- 
mediately six hands as red as blood ap- 
peared and carried the wheat away through 
the air. 

Vasilissa saw them, but she said nothing. 

The Baba Yaga sat down to supper and 
the girl placed food before her. She ate it 
all up ; enough for a score of men. Nothing 
was left for Vasilissa but bones and crusts. 

Then the hag stretched herself out on the 
bench. “To-day you did not have enough 
to save you from idleness,” she said. “To- 
morrow you shall do just the same and be- 
side that, you shall clean all the poppy-seed 
226 


VASILISSA THE FAIR 


that is in the bin. Wipe all the dust from 
it grain by grain. If you haven’t it done 
by the time I come home, I will eat you.” 

Then she went to sleep; snored until the 
hut rocked. 

Vasilissa took out her doll and set food 
before it. 

“Kukla, eat I pray; 

Great my need to-day. 

As I give you bread to break 
Help me for my mother’s sake.” 

The doll ate until it was satisfied. 
“Well, Vasilissa, what has she set you to do 
now?” it asked. 

“All that she did yesterday, dear one, and 
more beside. I am to clean a whole bin of 
poppy-seed, grain by grain.” 

“Well, that also may be done,” said the 
Kdkla. “Say your prayers and go to sleep, 
and all will be well.” 

227 


WHERE THE WIND BLOWS 


Vasilissa said her prayers and slept 
quietly until morning. 

Very early the . Baba Yaga started out 
through the forest in her mortar. “See that 
everything is done as I bade you, or it will 
be the worse for you when I return,” she 
said to the girl. 

Well, Vasilissa did not kill herself with 
work. The doll did everything for her. 
She had no need to so much as lift a finger. 

Just at nightfall, the Baba Yaga came 
rushing home through the forest. The 
earth smoked behind her. In she came, 
whistling in her throat. “Is everything 
done as I told you?” she asked. She looked 
about her. Nothing could she find to com- 
plain of. 

Then she cried, “Here is the wheat ready 
to be ground, and here is the poppy-seed 
ready to be pressed, but where are the hands 
to do it?” Immediately twelve hands ap- 
228 


VASILISSA the fair 


peared and they were as black as night. 
They carried the wheat and poppy-seed 
away through the air. Vasilissa looked, but 
said nothing. 

She set out food before the Baba Yaga, 
and the hag began to eat. Still the girl was 
silent. 

“There you stand, as dumb as a stone!” 
cried the old witch. “And have you seen 
nothing to wonder about since you have 
been here, that you ask no questions*?” 

“It is no business of mine,” answered 
Vasilissa. “If too much you know, old you 
will grow.” 

“That is true,” said the Baba Yaga. “All 
the same, there is something I would like to 
ask you.” 

“Ask it, in heaven’s name.” 

“How is it that you are able to stay here 
in my house and yet have no harm come to 
you?” 


229 


WHERE THE WIND BLOWS 


“It is because of my mother’s blessing,” 
answered Vasilissa. 

“Your mother’s blessing!” cried the Baba 
Yaga. “Out of my house, you blessed one. 
I want no blessed daughters about me. 
Take your light and begone.” 

Vasilissa caught up a lighted piece of 
wood and ran out of the house. On and on 
she ran. It was a two days’ journey before 
she reached home. All the time the wood 
shone like fire and yet it never burned out. 

At last on the evening of the second day, 
she came within sight of her house, but there 
was no light at the windows. She opened 
the door and there was her stepmother and 
the two girls sitting in the dark. 

For the first time in their lives they were 
glad to see her. “Come in; come in,” they 
cried. “Perhaps now we can light a candle. 
Since you went away, we have not been able 
to keep a light in the house.” 

230 



IT WAS A TWO DAYS’ JOURNEY THROUGH THE WOODS TO VASILISSA’S 


HOME 



VASILISSA THE FAIR 


They came toward her to take the wood 
from her. Then the fire leaped from it. 
It wrapped all about them, and when it 
burned out nothing was left of the three 
wicked ones but three heaps of ashes. 

The next day Vasilissa buried the ashes. 
Then she went away to a town near by. 
She stopped at the house of a very, very old 
crone. “Granny, if you will take me to live 
with you, you shall not lose by the bargain. 
I can both spin and weave, and everything 
I make shall be yours.” 

The old crone was pleased at this ; did not 
say no. 

Vasilissa lived with her for a year and a 
day. 

Every morning Vasilissa spun and wove, 
and every afternoon, when the crone was 
away, her Kfikla helped her. She made 
beautiful cloth. There was none like it 
made anywhere. 


231 


WHERE THE WIND BLOWS 


The old crone would not sell this cloth to 
common folk. It was so fine she took it to 
the young king. 

The king was delighted and had it made 
into shirts. He would wear no others. 

One day when he was dressing, he said, 
“It is strange that such a rough old woman 
should be able to make such beautiful 
cloth.” 

Then they told him that it was not made 
by the crone at all, but by a girl who lived 
with her, and was called Vasilissa the Fair. 

The king wished to see Vasilissa. He 
sent for her to come to the palace. 

At first Vasilissa was frightened, but they 
told her no harm would come to her. 

When the king saw her he thought her 
more beautiful than any one he had ever 
seen. He loved her with all his heart. 
“You are called Vasilissa the Fair,” he said. 
232 


VASILISSA THE FAIR 


“If you will, you shall marry me and be 
called Vasilissa the Queen . 55 

So Vasilissa put her hand in his, for he 
was good to look upon, and she and the 
king were married. After that they lived 
happily as long as they both drew the dear 
breath of life. 


233 


THE MARRIAGE OF SIR GAWAIN 




T HE sun shone down so fiercely that 
the world lay panting and swelter- 
ing in its heat. Not a breath of air 
was stirring ; the leaves hung motionless ; for 
the Wind was up at his grandmother’s, 
East of the sun and West of the moon, with 
no notion of stirring out that day. 

The old grandam had closed the shutters 
to keep out the heat. Only one long shaft 
of sunlight slipped in through a crack and 
pierced the dimness within. 

“Bright as King Arthur’s sword Excali- 
bur,” murmured the Wind to himself, as he 
lay stretched at length, his eyes half shut. 

“Who was King Arthur?” asked the old 
grandmother. 


237 


WHERE THE WIND BLOWS 


“He was a brave and gentle king,” quoth 
the Wind, “and he possessed a sword of 
wonderful brightness and keenness named 
Excalibur. Though it failed him once, as 
all things must.” 

“How was that, my son?” 

“Listen and I will tell you. Though it 
is almost too hot a day for one to be telling 
tales. The story is named neither for the 
king nor for his sword, but is called: The 
Marriage of Sir Gawain.” 

Once upon a time when the good King 
Arthur was holding court at merry Carlisle, 
there came to him a damsel, beautiful, but 
very sad, to ask of him aid in sore distress. 

“What is thy distress?” asked the king, 
“and what is the aid that thou wouldst 
have? One so beautiful and yet so mourn- 
ful should not ask in vain.” 

Then the damsel told him that she was 
238 


THE MARRIAGE OF SIR GAWAIN 


an orphan, and that she had been possessed 
of great wealth. She had also been be- 
trothed to a youth whom she had long loved. 
But a certain caitiff knight had despoiled 
her of her riches; and not only this, but her 
lover had he taken captive, and even now 
held imprisoned in a doleful dungeon. 

When King Arthur heard her story he was 
wroth to think that such ill-deeds should be 
done in his kingdom, and to one so young 
and beautiful. 

“Now by my kingly faith,” cried he, “this 
caitiff shall not go unpunished. Bring me 
my sword Excalibur and my good steed. I 
will myself go forth and punish this over- 
bearing baron.” 

Then they brought him his sword and his 
steed, and the king mounted and rode forth ; 
nor would he permit any to ride with him 
on his adventure. 

For three days King Arthur journeyed on, 

239 


WHERE THE WIND BLOWS 


and the fourth day he espied before him a 
castle tall and grim, and he knew it was the 
place in search of which he journeyed. 

Then the king spurred on his steed. Up 
to the castle gate he rode, and thundered 
upon it boldly. “Come forth, thou caitiff 
knight,” he cried, “and do combat with me; 
for I come hither on behalf of a certain 
gentle lady whom thou hast wronged.” 

Not long was the knight in answering this 
summons. Forth he rode upon a great 
black horse. His armor, too, was black, and 
both he and his steed were of gigantic size, 
so that they were terrible to look upon. 

But King Arthur was not dismayed, for 
neither man nor giant could make him quail. 

Then both drew back their horses and pre- 
pared to ride at each other; but scarce had 
the king set his lance in rest when a strange 
dizziness seized upon him. His arm fell 
numb and powerless, and it was with difR- 
240 


THE MARRIAGE OF SIR GAWAIN 


culty he could sit upon his horse. And good 
reason there was for King Arthur’s failing 
strength, for that grim baron was in truth 
a powerful enchanter, and the ground about 
his castle was enchanted ground. Not any 
might come against him there but their 
strength crumbled away, and they had no 
power to strike a blow. 

“Now yield thee,” cried the baron; and 
the king, who bowed his head to no man, 
was fain to yield. 

“Now thou art my prisoner,” said the 
churlish knight. “Thou who wouldst free 
others from dungeons, perchance may thy- 
self need rescue.” 

So he sat gazing proudly upon the van- 
quished king. But when he spoke again it 
was to other purpose, for he offered King 
Arthur his life and liberty on one condition. 
This condition was that the king should 
pledge his honor to return at the end of a 
241 


WHERE THE WIND BLOWS 


year, and then to answer truly a question 
which the knight would set him; failing this 
he was to deliver over himself, his life and 
lands into the hands of the enchanter. 

“And what is the question 1 ?” asked the 
king. 

“It is this: ‘What is it that all women 
most desire ?’ ” 

“ ‘What is it that all women most de- 
sire,’ ” repeated the king. “That should 
not be hard to answer.” 

Then he pledged his faith that at the end 
of a twelvemonth he would return to the 
baron’s castle, and either bring the true an- 
swer to that question, or yield over himself, 
his life, and lands. 

Then King Arthur turned and rode away 
from the castle. Far and wide rode the 
king, east and west, north and south, and 
of all he met he asked the same question: 
242 


THE MARRIAGE OF SIR GAWAIN 


“What is that which all women most de- 
sire?” 

Then one said one thing and one another, 
and scarce two alike, and yet none of the 
answers satisfied the king. 

So the months passed by, and at last it 
was time for him to turn his face toward 
the baron’s castle and yield himself pris- 
oner, for no answer could he find that 
seemed to be the right one. 

Now near the castle there was a dark and 
gloomy forest, and it so happened that King 
Arthur’s way led him through it. As he 
journeyed along in troubled thought, he 
suddenly saw an old hag sitting in the 
shadow of a bush. So grim and hideous she 
was, that the king turned away his look in 
disgust. He would have ridden past her in 
silence, but she called aloud to him by name. 

“Ho, King Arthur, thou courteous King 
243 


WHERE THE WIND BLOWS 


Arthur! wilt thou pass me by with not a 
word of greeting? And yet, little as thou 
considerest me, I might have helped thee 
where other help failed.” 

“What meanest thou?” asked the king, 
reining in his horse. 

“Aye, now thou wilt speak to me,” said 
the hag, “and that is well, for I know much 
of thee. I know that thou art on thy way 
to keep a faith unwillingly given; that un- 
less thou canst answer a certain question 
thou art like to lose all thou hast; moreover, 
I know what that question is.” 

“And dost thou further know the answer 
to that same question?” 

“Aye; that also do I know.” 

“Then tell me quickly, and if thy answer 
prove indeed the right one, then thou mayst 
ask of me what thou wilt and it shall be 
thine.” 


244 


THE MARRIAGE OF SIR GAWAIN 


“And wilt thou give thy kingly faith to 
that?” asked the hag. 

The king swore that it should be as he 
said. 

“Then know,” quoth the hag, “that what 
every woman desires most is her own way.” 
Then chuckling, the old hag got her to her 
feet, and hobbled away through the forest. 
“Farewell, thou courteous king,” she called 
back as she went, “I will come to thee again 
after thou art free, and then thou shalt keep 
the promise thou hast given.” And so say- 
ing she disappeared among the shadows of 
the forest. 

The king sat upon his horse watching her, 
and wondering that one so old could hobble 
along so quickly. Scarce could a young 
man have kept pace with her. Then he 
gathered up his reins and rode on toward 
the castle. 


245 


WHERE THE WIND BLOWS 


The twelvemonth had just passed to a 
day when the king returned to keep his faith 
with the grim baron, and he found that 
caitiff knight awaiting him. 

“So thou hast returned,” cried the baron 
to him. “Dost thou come wiser than thou 
went forth? And hast thou discovered the 
answer to my question?” 

“That thou shalt judge for thyself,” said 
King Arthur, and he began to repeat the 
answers he had heard upon his journey. 
But at each the baron shook his head. 

“That is not it,” he cried. “Now yield 
thee to me, for thou hast not paid the ran- 
som, and thy life and lands are forfeit to 
me.” 

“Wait but one moment,” cried the king. 
“Mayhap I may yet answer thee. Is not 
what every woman desires her own way?” 

When the enchanter heard that he cried 
aloud and gnashed his teeth with rage, but 
246 


THE MARRIAGE OF SIR GAWAIN 


he could not deny that his question had been 
fairly answered. “It is my sister whom 
thou hast met and who hath told thee this,” 
he cried. 

So King Arthur rode forth from the 
baron’s castle a free knight and made his 
way back to his own Court once more. 

As he journeyed he passed again through 
the forest, and riding slowly he looked on 
every side for the grisly hag, to ask her what 
reward she would have, but nowhere could 
he see her, and many a long day passed be- 
fore she came to him again. 

It was a full twelvemonth after, and the 
king was holding a feast with all the knights 
of his Round Table, when word was brought 
to him that one stood without, who desired 
speech with him, “And in truth,” said the 
messenger, “her looks are so fearful that all 
are terrified, and scarce dare to deny her.” 

The king bade them admit her. 

247 


WHERE THE WIND BLOWS 


Then into the hall hobbled the same old 
hag who had met him in the forest. King 
Arthur knew her well, though she was ten 
times more grisly and ill to look upon than 
when he had seen her before. 

The king greeted her right courteously. 
“Hast thou come to claim thy reward at 
last 1 ?” he asked. “I searched for thee in the 
forest, and found thee not, and it has 
weighed heavily upon me, that thy true 
service should have gone unrewarded. 
Now ask of me some boon and it shall be 
thine, whatever it is; for in truth my need 
was sore and but for thee, I would have been 
in an ill plight.” 

The old hag glanced slowly about her 
from one to another of the knights. “My 
boon seems but a slight one,” she said (and 
her head shook with palsy as she spoke), 
“when I see so many gallant knights gath- 
248 


THE MARRIAGE OF SIR GAWAIN 


ered here together. It is that thou shalt 
give me some fair and courtly one to be my 
husband.” 

At that the knights of the Round Table 
sat for a moment all aghast. Then there 
went up a shout of laughter, for it seemed 
beyond all belief that a young and noble 
knight should take to wife such a loathful 
old hag as she. 

But the crone cast about her such a ter- 
rible look that their laughter suddenly 
ceased and their hearts grew cold within 
them. 

There was silence in the hall and King 
Arthur’s look was troubled. “This is a 
strange boon for such a one as thee to ask,” 
he said. “Nor do I see how it is within my 
power to grant it. Ask of me aught else; 
wealth and lands, and even a place within 
my palace and my kingly protection, and it 
249 


WHERE THE WIND BLOWS 


is thine most willingly. Surely these things 
were more suited to thine age than that a 
youth should wed with thee.” 

Then the hag’s brow grew blacker still. 
“Is it so?’ she cried. “Is kingly faith so 
easily broken through? I will have naught 
except it be what I ask. I scorn thy wealth 
and lands, and before all men hast thou 
broken faith with me.” 

Then she turned away. But on a sudden 
Sir Gawain, the king’s own nephew, rose 
from his place, and his face was pale. 

“Hold!” he cried. “Never shall it be 
said that our king broke faith with any liv- 
ing being. Since he has given thee his 
word that thou shouldst have thy boon, I 
stand ready to bear him out. I myself will 
be thy husband.” 

At these words a cry went up from all the 
knights of the Table Round. The king 
250 


THE MARRIAGE OF SIR GAWAIN 


himself was horror-stricken, for Sir Gawain 
was of his own blood. Moreover, he was 
young and handsome and of so brave and 
courteous a mien that he was loved by all. 

King Arthur would fain have dissuaded 
him, but Sir Gawain was resolute, nor would 
he listen to aught that his companions 
could urge upon him. 

Then said the old hag, “I also promise 
to be thy wife, and to cleave only to thee, 
and all other men shall be as naught to me.” 
And at those words the other knights could 
not forbear a smile, and Sir Gawain’ s face 
crimsoned with shame. 

The wedding was set for the next day, 
and then the old crone hobbled away, nor 
would she let any go with her, so none knew 
where she went. 

When the next day came, she appeared 
once more, and she was dressed as 
251 


WHERE THE WIND BLOWS 


might become a young and lovely lady, so 
that she appeared even more hideous than 
ever. 

She smirked and smiled as Sir Gawain 
took her hand, but the young knight was as 
white as death, and he could not bear to 
look upon her. 

The marriage was solemnized before all 
the court, and when it was over Sir Gawain 
glanced sideways at his bride. 

But what wonderful change was that 
which had come upon her? Her wrinkles 
had smoothed away; her cheeks had grown 
round and rosy; her hair fell in long shining 
braids ; her neck was white as lawn ; her eyes 
were liquid with youth and beauty. In all 
King Arthur’s court there was none to com- 
pare with her. 

Wondering and awestruck, Sir Gawain 
sank before her on one knee, but, bending 
over, the lady kissed him on the mouth and 
252 



WONDERING AND AWE-STRUCK, SIR GAWAIN SANK BEFORE THE 


LADY ON ONE KNEE 



































I 
































•• 

















a 















J 


THE MARRIAGE OF SIR GAWAIN 


raised him to his feet. “When I was ugly, 
and poor, and despised, thou didst wed me,” 
she said, “and now I and all my great wealth 
and lands are thine, and I will be to thee 
a true and faithful wife.” 

Then v all were filled with wonder and 
admiration, and many a knight would have 
given all he had to be in Sir Gawain’s place. 

When the wonder had somewhat sub- 
sided, King Arthur asked the lady who she 
was, and how she had come in this plight, 
and this was her story. 

She was the sister of the grim enchanter 
with whom King Arthur had done combat. 

Great wealth and power had been hers, 
but she had offended her brother, so that he 
had punished her by changing her to a 
loathly hag, nor could she ever regain her 
own shape until some young and courtly 
knight should of his own free will take her 
as his wife. But now she was freed from 
253 


WHERE THE WIND BLOWS 


the enchantment, and she and all she had 
were Sir Gawain’s. 

When Sir Gawain heard all this he was 
filled with joy. The king also was happy 
to think all should have turned out so well, 
though many a knight was pale with envy 
as they looked upon the lovely bride. 

King Arthur ordered a great feast and all 
was mirth and rejoicing, and from that time 
on Sir Gawain lived in happiness with his 
beautiful wife. 

“So that is the end of the story,” said the 
Wind, “and a long enough story, too, to be 
told on such a hot day as this.” 


PERSEUS 





u T N all the island of Seriphos” — began 
[ the Wind — 

The old grandmother gave a sigh 
of content. Her work was over for the day. 
The polished moon was hung out clear 
above the earth. A tiny fire purred upon 
the hearth. The old woman folded her 
hands in her lap and sat listening to her 
grandson, with bent head and a half smile 
upon her lips. 

In all the island of Seriphos there was no 
one so tall and strong as the young Perseus, 
257 


WHERE THE WIND BLOWS 


just as there was no one so beautiful and 
sad as his mother Danae. 

Who his father was no one knew, for he 
and his mother had been cast ashore by the 
sea, when he was a little baby; cast ashore 
in a great wooden chest in which they had 
been drifting, drifting, for days and days. 

But Dictys, the brother of the king of 
Seriphos, was like a father to Perseus, for 
he found Danae and her babe on the sea- 
shore and took them home with him for pity 
of their loneliness. He kept Danae with 
him as his honored guest, nor did he even 
question her as to who she was or whence 
she came, lest, out of gratitude, she should 
feel obliged to tell him more than she 
wished. 

Danae and her son lived with the good 
Dictys and his wife for many years, and in 
all that time Dictys was careful that Danae 
should never be seen by Polydectes, the 
258 


PERSEUS 


king. For Dictys knew that the king had 
an evil heart, and he feared that if he saw 
Danae’s beauty he might desire her for him- 
self. 

But one day when Perseus was fifteen, 
and a head taller than any other youth of 
his age, he was striving with the lads of the 
island in friendly games, and in all things, 
whether of strength or skill, none could 
stand against him. Now Danae, in her 
mother’s pride, had come forth to watch the 
sports, and as chance would have it Poly- 
dectes came by that way and saw her for the 
first time. 

When he saw her beauty his heart burned 
within him, and he came to her and began to 
talk with her. But Danae was afraid. 
Therefore she kept her lids lowered, and 
answered him as little as might be. 

Nevertheless Polydectes was inflamed 
with a desire to have her for his wife, but 
259 


WHERE THE WIND BLOWS 


Danae would not marry him, because of his 
cruelty and his evil life. Then Polydectes 
would have taken her by force, but he was 
afraid of the young hero, Perseus, so he be- 
gan to plot and plan as to how he might rid 
himself of the youth. 

He gave a great feast and all the youth 
of Seriphos were bidden to it and Perseus 
with the rest, and each was commanded to 
bring with him a horse as a present to his 
king. 

When the day came the guests gathered 
from all parts of the island and each brought 
with him a horse, the finest that he could 
procure. Perseus alone brought none, for 
he had none of his own, and he would not 
ask Dictys to give him one. 

Each horse in turn was brought before 
Polydectes, and each one in turn received 
from him some word of praise. But when 
all had been seen the king turned to Perseus, 
260 


PERSEUS 


and called to him in a loud voice that all 
might hear: “And thou, Perseus; where is 
thy gift to thy king? Thou art but a 
foundling, and the very bread that feeds 
thee is given thee by my brother. Never- 
theless, men say thou art the son of Zeus. 
No doubt thou hast for me a horse that far 
excels all these, as befits a son of the gods.” 

At this there was a roar of laughter from 
all around, for they saw that Polydectes 
was making a mock of Perseus. But Per- 
seus grew pale with wrath and shame. 
Still, he answered proudly to the king: “A 
horse is but a small gift from the son of 
Zeus. Thou shouldst have asked me for 
some gift more worthy of him than that.” 

“For what should I have asked thee?” the 
king inquired smoothly. 

Then in his youthful rashness Perseus 
answered, “For the Gorgon’s head.” 

At those words a sudden silence fell upon 
261 


WHERE THE WIND BLOWS 


the company, for the Gorgon’s head is so 
terrible that any one who looks upon it is 
turned to stone. Therefore the guests 
trembled at Perseus’ boastful speech. 

But Polydectes smote his hands together. 
“Thou hast well spoken,” he cried, “and I 
take thee at thy word. Go forth, oh son of 
Zeus, nor ever dare to show thy face upon 
this island again unless thou bringest with 
thee the Gorgon’s head as a gift.” 

Then Perseus knew that he had fallen 
into a trap, and he ground his teeth, and 
turning upon his heel he strode forth from 
the king’s hall. Behind him he heard a 
shout of laughter from the feasters, but he 
heeded it not. His heart was full of bitter- 
ness and wrath. 

Perseus strode on, scarce seeing where he 
went, and at last he found himself far away 
from the city and on a lonely promontory 
that jutted out into the sea. Before him 
262 


PERSEUS 


lay the weltering waters, and the sea-gulls 
dipped and flew. 

There Perseus stretched up his arms 
toward the shining sky. “They have called 
me the son of Zeus,” he cried. “Send me 
help in this my need, oh mighty one ! and I 
will be faithful and tireless to fulfil my 
vow.” 

The heavens still smiled above him, and 
the wind that had been blowing dropped, 
leaving a great stillness. “Hear me, oh 
Zeus!” he cried again, but there was no re- 

ply- 

Then his eyes dropped from the sky to the 
horizon. There, skimming lightly toward 
him, but far, far away, were two shining 
specks like birds. Nearer and nearer they 
came ; larger and larger they grew. Perseus 
shaded his eyes with his hand, wondering 
what manner of birds they might be that 
flew so fast and were so shining bright. 

263 


WHERE THE WIND BLOWS 


Nearer and nearer; and now he could see 
that they were not birds at all, but two 
figures, a man and a woman, and then sud- 
denly they reached the promontory and 
stood before Perseus. Tall, they both 
were, with something of awful grandeur in 
their faces. The woman wore a helmet 
that shone neither like gold nor like silver, 
but with a luster all its own, and on her arm 
she bore a shining shield, over one part of 
which hung a goat-skin. The man carried 
no shield, but in his hand was a winged staff 
about which writhed two serpents. The 
sandals on his feet were winged. In the 
broad sunlight stood the two, and yet they 
cast no shadow. 

When Perseus saw that his heart was 
filled with awe, and he fell down before 
them, for he knew them as Immortals. 

But the woman spoke to him mildly. 
“Rise up, Perseus,” she said, “and pay heed 
264 


PERSEUS 


to my words, for Zeus has heard thy prayer 
and I am come to thee as a messenger. Rise 
up and be not afraid.” 

Then Perseus rose and stood before them, 
but his eyelids quivered as he met their gaze, 
for it seemed to pierce him through and read 
the inmost secrets of his heart. 

“Rashly didst thou speak when thou didst 
vow to bring the head of the Gorgon to 
Polydectes,” said the woman. “Rashly 
didst thou speak, boldly wilt thou perform; 
but he who seeks the Gorgon may neither 
falter nor turn from his way.” 

“Give me but the means to go,” cried 
Perseus, “for I have neither men nor ships, 
and I will seek it even beyond the bounds 
of Hades itself.” 

Then the man spoke. “No need hast 
thou of slow-oared ships; I myself will give 
thee the means to go.” 

So saying he took from his feet the winged 

265 


WHERE THE WIND BLOWS 


sandals, and giving them to Perseus bade 
him put them on. “They will carry thee,” 
he said, “straight as the gods will thee to 
go, if thy courage fails not.” 

“But when I reach the Gorgon,” said 
Perseus, “how shall I slay her? for I have 
no sword.” 

“Here is thy sword,” and the woman 
handed him a short sword that had been 
concealed in the folds of her garment, as she 
stood with her arm hanging. Then she un- 
loosed her shield and gave him that. “This 
wilt thou need also,” she said, “for none may 
look upon the Gorgon and live. Therefore 
when thou hast reached her lair look in the 
shield. It will reflect her and so shalt thou 
know where to strike. But touch not her 
sisters for they are immortal. Slay the 
Gorgon Medusa only. She was once a 
woman, even as other women, and very 
beautiful, but she did such a deed that the 
266 


PERSEUS 


sun was darkened and the heavens shook. 
Then the gods changed her to a Gorgon, 
with brazen breasts, and her hair has become 
adders, and her lips spit forth venom. And 
when thou hast slain her, wrap her head in 
the goat-skin that none may see it till thy 
hour of need. 5 ’ 

When the woman had made an end of 
speaking Perseus was eager to be gone, but 
she had still somewhat to tell him as to how 
he must journey. He must seek first the 
three Grey Sisters, far away upon the bor- 
ders of the Northern sea, and find from them 
where the Gorgon dwelt. And when he had 
once started he must never turn back until 
his adventure was accomplished or destruc- 
tion would surely come upon him. “And 
now,” she cried, “leap forth from where we 
stand, and the sandals will bear thee up.” 

Then Perseus looked from the promon- 
tory where he stood, and there, far, far be- 
267 


WHERE THE WIND BLOWS 


low, he could see the waves breaking white 
against the rocks, and his heart was troubled 
within him for fear of the depth below him. 

“Leap ! 55 cried the man to him, and then, 
in spite of his fears, Perseus leaped. 

But he did not fall. The winged sandals 
bore him up and forward so swiftly that the 
sea-gulls were left behind him in his flight. 
When he looked back over his shoulder the 
island of Seriphos was no more than a line 
upon the horizon, and all below him and in 
front, and on either side, was the weltering 
waste of the ocean, and above him the great 
vault of the sky. 

Perseus journeyed on for many days until 
he found himself upon the borders of the 
great Northern sea, where never man has 
journeyed. There he dropped lower, scan- 
ning the shore, and soon, seated in the 
shadow of a great ice crag, he saw three old 
women with nodding heads. So gray and 
268 


PERSEUS 


withered they were that at first he took them 
for three gray rocks, crowned with matted 
gray moss. But while he poised there, look- 
ing and listening, he saw their hands moving 
and heard them muttering to each other. 

Now these three old Grey Sisters had but 
one eye and one tooth among them, and 
these they handed from one to another, so 
that each might have her turn to see and to 
eat. While Perseus watched, the three 
old women began to quarrel among them- 
selves as to whose turn it was to have the 
eye. 

Then Perseus dropped quietly beside 
them and caught the eye from the hand of 
the sister who held it. 

“What is this?” cried the gray hag. 
‘Who snatched the eye from me?” 

“Not I,” cried another. 

“Nor I,” said the third. 

Then all began to cry together that some 
269 


WHERE THE WIND BLOWS 


stranger must be there and that their eye 
was stolen. 

“Yes / 5 said Perseus, “I have your eye . 55 

When they heard the voice of Perseus 
they all began to cry to one another to catch 
him; to bite him; to tear him to pieces. 
But Perseus stood aside where they could 
not reach him and, as soon as they were 
quiet, he spoke again : 

“You cannot catch me, for I have two 
eyes of my own, and now, unless you answer 
me truly, I will crush your eye, and you will 
have none to see with . 55 

At that the three Grey Sisters began to 
weep and moan, begging him to give them 
back their eye and promising that whatso- 
ever he wished they would tell him. 

Then Perseus asked them where he could 
find the Gorgon Medusa. 

“That we know not , 55 answered the oldest 
of the Grey Sisters, “but you must fly to the 
270 


PERSEUS 


Garden of the Hesperides, and inquire 
there, and they will tell you. 5 ’ 

“And where is the Garden of the Hes- 
perides ? 55 asked Perseus. 

Then they told him how to find it, and, as 
soon as he knew, Perseus placed the eye in 
the hand of the crone who had held it, and 
leaping aloft sped away so swiftly that the 
voices died away behind him and the wind 
whistled past his ears. 

On and on went Perseus, and ever the 
sun shone warmer and warmer, and the sky 
grew bluer and bluer, and at last he reached 
the Garden of the Hesperides. Very beau- 
tiful it was, with lush green grass, and trees 
where blossoms and fruits grew, both on the 
same branch. In the middle of the garden 
was a tree more beautiful than all the others, 
for the fruit upon it was of pure gold. 
Around the trunk of the* tree twisted a 
dragon, with unwinking eyes, that never 
271 


WHERE THE WIND BLOWS 


slept, and he guarded the fruit day and 
night lest any one should steal it. 

But Perseus had no thought of the fruit, 
beautiful as it was, for his heart was set 
upon his adventure, and he sought only 
those who could direct him where to go. 

Presently, from a covert of roses he saw 
coming toward him three beautiful nymphs. 
They were laughing together as they came 
dancing across the sward toward the tree. 
But suddenly they saw Perseus, and they 
shrieked with fear and would have fled, but 
he called to them not to be afraid. So they 
stood and watched him timidly as he drew 
nearer. 

“Fair nymphs,” said Perseus mildly, “can 
you tell me where to find the Gorgon Me- 
dusa?’ 

“The Gorgon!” cried the eldest of the 
nymphs. “Alas! thou art young to be al- 
ready weary of thy life ! Knowest thou not 
272 


PERSEUS 


that all who look upon the Gorgon are 
turned to stone?” 

“That I know well,” Perseus made an- 
swer, “but yet I do not fear, for the Im- 
mortals have sent me upon this quest, and 
they will protect me even against the Gor- 
gon’s eyes.” 

When the nymphs heard that Perseus had 
been sent thither by the Immortals, they 
dared not dissuade him from his quest. 
They told him, however, that they them- 
selves could not direct him. He must ask 
the giant Atlas, their uncle, who held up 
heaven upon his shoulders. “For,” said 
they, “his head is up among stars, and he 
can see everything, even to the uttermost 
ends of the earth. He can tell thee where 
to seek the Gorgons.” 

Then Perseus asked the nymphs where he 
could find Atlas, and they pointed to what 
he had at first taken to be a mountain, its 
273 


WHERE THE WIND BLOWS 


peak lost to sight among the moving clouds. 
But as he looked again, he saw it was no 
mountain, but a gigantic figure of a man 
with bent head, and upon his shoulders 
rested the great vault of heaven itself. 

Then Perseus made haste to go to Atlas, 
and he inquired of him whither he should go 
to see the Gorgon. 

“From far above the world I look,” Atlas 
made answer, “and I see the Gorgons where 
they lie asleep, but where they are I will not 
tell thee except thou make me a promise.” 
Then as Perseus hesitated, Atlas went on 
in his weary voice, “Promise me that if thou 
slayest Medusa, thou wilt bring her head 
hither that I may look upon it and be turned 
to stone, for I weary with this great weight 
of heaven that I have been bearing up for 
such countless ages.” 

Perseus promised that he would do this, 
274 


PERSEUS 


and then Atlas, from high among the clouds 
told Perseus where it was that he saw the 
Gorgons, as they lay asleep in a rocky desert, 
with the bones of their victims whitening 
about them. 

As soon as Perseus heard, he would have 
sped away, hot in his quest, but the nymphs 
called to him, warning him that if he would 
succeed he must have the cap of darkness 
which makes its wearer invisible. 

“And where is this cap of darkness?” he 
asked. 

“It is in the gloomy Hades, where Pluto 
reigns, and where never mortal may 
venture and return alive, but we may go, 
for we are immortal, though it is a dreary 
journey.” 

Then, for the love of Perseus’ fair looks, 
the eldest nymph said that she would go 
down and fetch him the cap. 

275 


WHERE THE WIND BLOWS 


So she went down into a dark cavern 
among the rocks, for that was one of the 
doors of Hades, and was lost to sight. 

For a long time Perseus and her sister 
nymphs awaited her, and when at length 
she re-appeared her face was pale and her 
eyes wide from the sights that she had seen 
deep in those sunless regions; but in her 
hand she held the cap of darkness. 

Then Perseus sprang to his feet with a 
glad shout, and she gave him the cap, but 
her sisters wept, for now Perseus would 
leave them. Weeping they bade him fare- 
well, but Perseus smiled, for his heart was 
all for mighty deeds and not for love. 

Placing the cap of darkness on his head 
he sprang aloft and sped on the way that 
Atlas had pointed out to him. 

On and on he went until he reached a 
rocky desert, and then he paused for he 
heard a rattling as of metal against stone, 
276 


PERSEUS 

and a hissing sound that struck cold upon 
his heart. 

He raised aloft the shield and looked 
upon its polished surface, for he knew he 
must be near the Gorgon’s lair. And look- 
ing into it he saw reflected there the thing 
he sought. 

Lying among the rocks asleep were three 
Gorgons. Two were terrible to look upon, 
but one was very beautiful except for the 
adders that writhed and twisted above her 
brow. Perseus looked and looked, and then 
in her sleep Medusa’s lips drew back and her 
teeth gnashed together, and her wings fell 
apart, so that he saw her brazen breast, and 
her talons. Perseus shuddered at the sight, 
and, still gazing in his mirror, he raised the 
sword, Herpe, and struck right where her 
white neck lay. He had no need to strike 
again for the beautiful, wicked head rolled 
over among the rocks, and Perseus seized it 
277 


WHERE THE WIND BLOWS 


and wrapped it in the goat-skin. Then 
springing aloft he sped back, back, fast as 
the winged sandals would bear him, the way 
that he had come. 

And need he had to fly fast, for as he flew 
he heard behind him the shrieks of the other 
Gorgons. They had awakened and they 
were on his track, and he heard the rattle 
of their brazen wings and their fierce cries 
as they followed hot upon the scent of blood. 
Perseus 5 heart shuddered within him for the 
horrid death that followed close upon his 
heels. But fast as the Gorgons flew the 
winged sandals bore him faster still,, and as 
he sped, their cries grew fainter and fainter 
behind him, and died away in the distance. 

On and on went Perseus, until he saw 
before him the blue of a cloud-tipped moun- 
tain; but he knew it was no mountain, but 
the giant Atlas, wearily bending beneath the 
load of the sky. 


278 


PERSEUS 


As soon as Perseus reached him the giant 
called to him, “Hast thou brought the Gor- 
gon’s head 4 ?” 

“I have brought it,” Perseus made an- 
swer. 

“Then fulfil thy promise, and hold it up 
that I may see it and be eased of this weary 
load.” 

So Perseus uncovered the Gorgon’s head 
and held it up for the giant to look upon. 
And Atlas looked upon it steadily for a mo- 
ment, and then his great form was changed 
into a craggy mountain, its peak lost among 
the clouds, and there it stands to this day, 
with the heavens resting upon its rocky 
summit. 

The nymphs plead with Perseus that he 
would stay with them awhile in the Gar- 
den of the Hesperides, but he would not, 
for he was eager to see his home once more, 
and he feared that some harm might have 
279 


WHERE THE WIND BLOWS 


come to his mother, in his absence, from the 
wicked king, Polydectes. 

So he left the nymphs and flew away, and 
on and on, over desert, streams and hills 
until he saw before him the blue waters of 
the Mediterranean, sparkling in the sun. 

He sprang forward toward it and his 
heart quivered within him at the thought of 
home. But when he would have flown sea- 
ward, of a sudden a great wind sprang up 
that pushed him backward toward the land 
like a mighty invisible arm. All day Per- 
seus battled with the wind, but even the 
sandals could not bear him forward against 
it. 

At last, out-wearied, he threw himself 
down to rest, and immediately the wind 
fell, and all was still. 

When Perseus was rested he stood up, 
and leaped again from the earth, and 
would have flown seaward once more, but 
280 


PERSEUS 


immediately the wind sprang up and beat 
him back to land again. 

So seven times Perseus struggled with the 
wind, and seven times the wind beat him 
back. 

And Perseus thought within himself, and 
he said, “So far the Immortals have been 
with me, and they have strengthened my 
arm, and borne me on the way I should go. 
Now therefore, either they are angry with 
me, or there are other mighty deeds for me 
to do before I may see my home again.” 

Then once more he leaped aloft, but this 
time he did not strive to fly toward the sea, 
but wheresoever the sandals would bear 
him, there he went. 

And the sandals bore him eastward and 
still eastward, and he passed over great 
cities, and over deserts where the oases were 
dotted green and at last he came to another 
sea, but it was gray and bleak, and great 


WHERE THE WIND BLOWS 


rocky cliffs frowned down upon its waste. 
And chained to one of these cliffs Perseus 
saw a figure stand, as white as marble 
against the gray. 

Then he flew down closer to look at it, 
and behold the figure was a woman stand- 
ing there with no clothing but the long and 
shining hair that fell forward and about her 
like a mantle. And as he looked Perseus 
saw a long shudder pass over her, and she 
moaned as one too worn and faint to cry 
aloud. Then she lifted up her head and 
stared across the sea with parted lips, but 
she could not see Perseus, for he still wore 
the cap of darkness on his head. 

Then Perseus flew down still closer, and 
wondering at her beauty, and wishing to 
speak to her, he lifted the cap from his head, 
that he might be seen. 

When the maiden saw him she shrieked 
aloud with fear and tried to hide her face, 
282 






PERSEUS WRAPPED ANDROMEDA IN HIS CLOAK 

























































































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PERSEUS 


but her arms were chained above her head 
and she could not. But Perseus, spoke to 
her gently and pityingly, and asked her who 
she was and why she was so cruelly chained 
there at the mercy of the wind and waves. 

Then, weeping, t^i maiden told him that 
her name was Andromeda, and that she was 
the daughter of Cepheus, King of Iopa, 
and her mother was Cassiopoeia of the beau- 
tiful tresses. Happy and beloved had 
she dwelt in Iopa, until her mother, Cas- 
siopoeia, had boasted that her daughter was 
more beautiful than Atergatis, queen of the 
fishes. At that Atergatis was very wroth, 
and in her anger she sent plagues upon the 
people of Iopa, until they cried aloud to 
the king in their trouble that he should de- 
liver them. And after the plagues Ater- 
gatis sent a great monster of the sea that 
harried them, and the priests prophesied 
that the monster would never be satisfied 
283 


WHERE THE WIND BLOWS 


until a virgin of royal blood had been sac- 
rificed to him. 

Then in his fear, the king vowed that the 
wrath of Atergatis should be appeased, even 
though his daughter Andromeda herself 
should be the price. Therefore she was 
chained to the cliffs at the edge of the sea 
that the monster might devour her, and, 
peradventure, the plague be lifted from the 
people. 

When Perseus heard all this he was filled 
with love and pity toward the maiden, and 
with indignation against those who would 
have made of her a sacrifice. 

But suddenly Andromeda gave a shriek, 
and her face grew thin and wild. “Fly ! fly, 
fair stranger! lest thou share my fate,” she 
cried. 

Then Perseus looked over his shoulder 
and there, wallowing in the trough of the 
sea close to the cliff he saw the great sea- 
284 


PERSEUS 


monster. Its eyes were small and cruel, 
and its great sides glistened with slime. 
On it came, its eyes fixed on the maiden, 
but it came slowly, as though gloating at 
leisure on the terror of its prey. 

But Perseus cried to Andromeda, “The 
Immortals have surely led me hither to save 
thee. Now hide thine eyes, lest the same 
thing that slays the monster should prove 
thy destruction, also . 55 

Andromeda closed her eyes trembling, 
though in her heart sprang up a sudden 
hope. Perseus hovered beside her, and the 
monster wallowed on toward them. Sud- 
denly its great jaws opened and it leaped 
forward, but in that moment Perseus un- 
covered the Gorgon’s head and held it aloft. 

Presently he touched the maiden on the 
wrist and she opened her eyes trembling. 
Below and before her lay the stretch of the 
gray sea. No stir of life she saw, no leap- 
285 


WHERE THE WIND BLOWS 


ing fish; only a long black rock that had 
not been there before, and upon which the 
waves broke in white foam. 

Then Perseus raised Herpe and struck the 
chains that fastened Andromeda to the 
rocks, and the sword cut through the brass 
as though it had been twisted flax. So he 
freed Andromeda. 

He wrapped her in his cloak and flew with 
her to the top of the cliff, and then he saw 
fair green fields and far away a shining city 
that was Iopa. 

Thither he bore Andromeda in his arms, 
and when he reached the palace of the king 
all were terrified, for they thought him one 
of the Immortals. 

But Perseus bade them have no fear, for 
he was but a mortal like themselves and he 
told them of how he had rescued Andromeda 
and that henceforth the people of Iopa 
should no more be harried, for he had been 
286 


PERSEUS 


sent thither by the Immortals themselves to 
free them from the monster. 

Then there were great rejoicings, and 
King Cepheus gave Perseus Andromeda for 
his wife, and they were married, and all the 
city feasted and made glad. 

Perseus abode in Iopa many days, for 
Cassiopoeia entreated him not to take her 
daughter away; but one day he fell into a 
deep sleep, and in his sleep the woman who 
had appeared to him in Seriphos came to 
him again, and great awe fell upon Perseus, 
for he knew her as Pallas Athene herself. 

And Pallas Athene spoke to him and said, 
“Perseus, well hast thou done thy task; 
bravely as a hero should. Give me back 
now my shield and my sword and the 
winged sandals, for thy need of them has 
passed. But keep Medusa’s head to take 
to Polydectes, and after thou hast shown 
it to him lay it upon my altar as an offering 
287 


WHERE THE WIND BLOWS 


that I may bear it on my shield forever. 
Tarry here no longer; take thy wife and 
journey on into thy own country.” 

And immediately the dream broke and 
Perseus awoke. 

And yet no dream was it, but a vision that 
had come to Perseus, for when he went to 
look, the sword and the shield and the 
winged sandals were gone, but the head of 
Medusa was still beside him wrapped in 
the goat-skin. 

Then Perseus made haste to make his 
vision known, and he said to the king, “Let 
us build an altar to Pallas Athene, and 
offer sacrifices, and then give me my wife 
and let me go, for too long have I tarried 
here.” 

And King Cepheus did as Perseus said, 
and they built an altar to the goddess, and 
sacrificed upon it. After that he gave 
Perseus ships and gold and silver and 
288 


PERSEUS 


precious stuffs as much as the ships would 
hold, and men to row them. 

Then Andromeda bade farewell to her 
father and mother and went with Perseus, 
and together they journeyed away from the 
land of Iopa. 

Not long was it before they reached that 
island, and as soon as Perseus had landed 
he took the Gordon’s head, still wrapped in 
the goat-skin, and went up through the city 
to the house of Dictys. 

None stopped him nor spoke to him upon 
the way, for no man knew him, so tall and 
noble had he grown, and he bore himself as 
a hero who has done great deeds. 

But when Perseus reached the house of 
Dictys, he found all grief and mourning, 
and when Dictys himself saw Perseus he 
gave a great cry and then bowed his head 
and hid his face, crying, “Alas! Alas, my 
son!” 


289 


WHERE THE WIND BLOWS 


At that a trembling fell upon Perseus and 
he asked, “Where is my mother?” 

“That I know not,” answered Dictys, 
“for Polydectes has sent here, and has 
taken her from us by force, and whether she 
is a slave in his palace, or whether she still 
lives at all, I know not.” 

Then Perseus turned on his heel and 
strode forth to the palace of the king. 
Through the palace he went and none dared 
to stop him, so terrible was his look. At 
last he came to a great hall from which came 
a sound of feasting and revelry. Perseus 
pushed aside the curtain and stepped into 
the hall. Within was a great table set, and 
at the head of it sat Polydectes. His gob- 
let was in his hand and he laughed aloud 
as he raised it to his lips. 

But even as he raised it, his eyes met those 
of Perseus, and, changed as he was, the king 
knew him. Pale as death grew Polydectes, 
290 


PERSEUS 


and the goblet shook in his hand so that the 
wine was spilled and ran down red as blood. 
The revelers too, looked, and their laughter 
died away. 

Perseus stood frowning with bent brows 
upon the king, and when he spoke his voice 
was stern. “Where is my mother, Poly- 
dectes?” 

Twice the king strove to speak, and twice 
his voice died away upon his lips. The 
third time he strove, his voice came trem- 
blingly, in spite of the jeering words : “Ha, 
foundling! hast thou returned? And hast 
thou brought me the Gorgon’s head?” 

“I have returned,” answered Perseus, 
“and I have brought with me the Gorgon’s 
head.” 

Then the king’s heart crumbled within 
him, but still he strove to brave it out. 
“That I will believe,” he said, “when I have 
seen it.” 


291 


WHERE THE WIND BLOWS 


“Then behold ! 55 cried Perseus. 

With that he drew the Gorgon’s head 
from the goat-skin and held it aloft. 

When the king saw it he strove to cry out, 
but the cry died upon his lips. He strove 
to rise from his place, but as he strove his 
arms grew rigid and his face gray. Gray 
grew all the revelers and the hall became 
still as death, and Perseus stood alone there 
holding up the Gorgon’s head before a cir- 
cle of lifeless stones. 

Then at last Perseus slipped the head 
back into the goat-skin, and turning, he left 
the hall to its grim silence. Through the 
palace strode the hero, seeking for his 
mother, and as he went from room to room 
none dared to stop nor stay him. 

And at last in the darkest and meanest 
room, he found his mother working with the 
servants. She was grinding millet and her 
face was thin and wan, and her hands hard- 
292 


PERSEUS 


ened with toil. She looked up from her 
work as Perseus’ shadow fell across her, and 
in the moment that she saw him, she knew 
him. She gave a cry that seemed to rend 
her heart, and her hands dropped weak and 
nerveless. But Perseus caught her up in 
his arms and his tears poured down over her 
face. 

Then he bore her out in his arms and to 
the house of Dictys. But when he looked 
into her face he thought that she was dead, 
so white and lifeless did she lie. But she 
was not dead. She had only fainted with 

joy- 

When she had somewhat recovered Per- 
seus related to her the story of his wander- 
ings, and after that she, too, had her tale 
to tell. It was a tale of cruelty and in- 
justice. Of how after the son was gone 
Polydectes had again sought her hand in 
marriage, and, how when she would not 
293 


WHERE THE WIND BLOWS 


have it, he had been filled with wrath and 
hatred and had carried her away and made 
a slave of her. 

As Perseus listened his heart burned, and 
he swore within himself that never again 
would he leave his mother unprotected. 

After a while Perseus made Dictys king 
over Seriphos, in the place of Polydectes, 
and Danae and Perseus, with his wife, dwelt 
in the palace also, until at last, in the full- 
ness of time, good Dictys died and Perseus 
reigned in his stead; and the favor of the 
gods was with them. 

“And did Perseus ever leave his mother 
again?” asked the old grandmother. 

“Yes, once more did he leave her,” the 
Wind made answer, gazing thoughtfully at 
the purring fire on the hearth. “That was 
when he journeyed to find his people and 
the land of his birth.” 

294 


PERSEUS 


“And cannot you tell me about that 4 ?” 
asked the old crone coaxingly. 

But the Wind yawned. “No, no, for 
that is a long story too, and I am sleepy and 
tired. Besides it’s time you took in your 
moon.” 

“That is true,” said the grandmother. 
So she made haste to take in the moon (for 
it was its time of setting) and pack it away. 

Then she and her grandson went to their 
beds and soon were fast asleep, and dark- 
ness settled over the world below. 


THE END 


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